Maria Canton
Northern News Services

NNSL (July 19/99) - The people of Fort McPherson are concerned that their summer water supply may be contaminated by leaking diesel fuel.

The Gwich'in Land and Water Use Board has held its first public meeting to discuss the renewal of a land use permit for the GNWT's highway maintenance camp.

The camp, located about 40 kilometres from the town near James Creek, has a 100,000 litre fuel tank on-site that has been there for 15 years.

"We aren't saying they can't renew the permit, but we want to make sure they are meeting conditions before it is done," said James Andre, president of the renewable resources council for the Inuvik region.

Some of the conditions members in the community would like to see are a liner put in place within the containment system, a holding capacity in the event of a spill and frequent checks to ensure the fuel isn't leaking.

The GNWT Department of Transportation, however, says a concrete containment structure is already in place and the tank doesn't put the area at an increased risk.

"We need the fuel there to maintain the Dempster highway," said Gurdev Jagpal, supervisor for the Department of Transportation, Inuvik region.

"The tank has been there for 15 years and it is not putting the area in any risk."

If the permit is denied, says Jagpal, the GNWT will appeal the decision. The board has yet to announce their intentions.