Government has launched an investigation into cancer causing creosote in Deer Lake's water supply

    Monday, 7 July 2025 06:00

    By Tonya Organ

    Lawyer Bob Buckingham says what’s interesting about this is that if a resident had a leak from an oil tank, the government would come in, demand that it be cleaned up and every bit of contaminated soil removed. 

    Many years ago, a Deer Lake man made a promise to his mother as she lay dying and now, this goal is becoming closer to a reality. Richard Dewey is being represented by big named lawyer Bob Buckingham in a class action lawsuit after he reported that creosote-contaminated soil was trucked from beneath the penstocks and buried near the town’s water supply. As well,  creosote-soaked penstocks were dumped at the closed town landfill. Lawyer Bob Buckingham says now the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador have officially opened an investigation into the illegal burial of hazardous and contaminated materials in Deer Lake. He says what’s interesting about this is that if a resident had a leak from an oil tank, the government would come in, demand that it be cleaned up and every bit of contaminated soil removed. 

    Buckingham is calling for a public inquiry, saying there has to be accountability and environmental remediation. He says this should have been dealt with many years ago. Buckingham says government has to support medical testing and provide care for those medically affected as a result.

     

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