MV Miner oil spill 'minor,' transport minister says

The private contractor responsible for the cleanup of the MV Miner had to deal with what Nova ScotiaTransportationGeoff MacLellan is calling a "minor oil spill" last Sunday.

It happened when workers tried to move the last remaining shipengine.

MacLellan said the contractor, RJM Construction, anticipated there might be oil or fuel left in it so workers set up a containment area before the lift.

"There's a well established process for holding contaminated sites and making sure that everything's cordoned off with booms that would ensure that nothing gets out," he said. "So, nothing did get out. There was no impact on the fishery whatsoever. Nothing got outside of the containment area."

MacLellan estimated about 800 litres of oil were recovered as a result of the spill.

He said the final work to clear off the work camp set up to deal with the grounded bulk carrier likely won't be done till after the lobster season is over.

The season started last week.

The MV Miner ran aground on the Scaterie Island more than three years ago.