The government expressed "sincere regret" yesterday for delaying the release of a report detailing the impact of a fuel leak at the Rubis gas station on Robinson Road. In a statement, the government said an initial analysis of the report's release, delayed for more than a year, revealed that "poor coordination and administration led to the delay".

"To mitigate such challenges in the future, government will within 15 days appoint an independent governance and machinery of government expert to make public a review of the handling of the report; identify specific errors leading to the delay and recommend a new process for timely disclosure," said the statement.

The government has come under heavy fire for failing to release the report sooner. The report by consultants Black & Veatch was completed in February 2014, but was only made public on April 17, 2015 after area residents expressed outrage at a town meeting that the report had not been released.

The report concludes that residents who live near the gas station on Robinson Road and people who work in adjacent buildings were exposed to chemicals that could create health risks. The consultants also concluded that residents and workers at the nearby Cable Bahamas buildings and occupants and visitors to the commercial buildings on the north side of the road "were potentially exposed to chemicals as a result of the Rubis [gasoline] release" in late 2012, early 2013.

As part of its plan to mitigate risk to some Marathon residents, the government said Chief Medical Officer Dr. Glen Beneby in partnership with Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) will lead health screening clinics for those in affected areas. Beneby will begin meeting with affected households today, according to the government. Screening tests will be completed by June 1.

Additionally, the government said it will introduce legislation in the House of Assembly to "enhance public safety and environmental protection". This will include the creation of the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection and petroleum sector regulations on the handling, maintenance and cleanup of contaminants.

"We wish to correct the record in the matter of the Rubis fuel spill at the Robinson Road service station, and in so doing, highlight government's actions to ensure the care and safety of residents in the area, particularly the five households directly affected by the spill," the government said.

The government said a review of actions taken after the spill demonstrates that Rubis has accepted responsibility. And that the government immediately compelled the company to remediate the situation by removing contamination in water and soil, contain the spill and prevent cross contamination to other locations or sites.

The government said it also ensured testing and reporting on contamination levels for wells, residences and local businesses.

"Rubis has financed these operations out of pocket, at no cost to the people of The Bahamas," the statement noted. "To decrease the risk of negative health effects, access to city water has been assured. Residents of the area have been instructed not to use ground water, but city water instead."

The government also said Rubis engaged ARCADIS, an international consulting firm, which took samples in March 2014 and February 2014.
These samples showed the presence of benzene and other potential contaminants are at "safe, acceptable levels".

"In the interest of public health, however, we will continue testing and monitoring for the next several years under the advisement of international environmental consultants," the government said. "We will proactively update the public in Marathon and beyond through quarterly reports."

According to Black & Veatch's report, a sample of homes tested in the vicinity of the Rubis spill in May 2013 revealed contamination concentrations of benzene that were hundreds of times, and in some cases thousands of times higher than acceptable screening levels in the United States.

Black and Veatch tested the extent of groundwater contamination of benzene during three sampling exercises in March, May and October 2013. The Department of Health and Human Services of the U.S. (DHHS) has determined that benzene causes cancer in humans. Long-term exposure to high levels of benzene in the air can cause leukemia, cancer of the blood-forming organs.

Marathon residents will hold a town meeting today at 7 p.m. at Grace Community Church on Grace Avenue to discuss the way forward over the leak.

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