The Tribune

RUBIS Bahamas has hit back at “inaccurate” media reports about its reaction to a 2012 underground fuel leak at its Robinson Road station, explaining that the company has taken appropriate steps to remedy the situation.

The company insisted that recent area tests have found no free hydrocarbons in the soil, and reduced hydrocarbon levels in the ground water. Hydrocarbons are made up of compounds such as benzene, a cancer-causing compound found in fuel, and methane.

“As a good corporate citizen, Rubis has been responsible and diligent in response to the incident at Robinson Road and we have taken all necessary and possible actions to remediate the impacted areas and to avoid any risk to the neighbours,” the company said in a paid advertisement.

“Remediation activities at the site have been conducted for more than two years and have been very effective in reducing the levels of hydrocarbons present in the soil and in the water.

“Recent samples taken from the soil and the water table in areas impacted by the spill have confirmed that there are no free hydrocarbons present in the soil and that the levels of hydrocarbons present in the water table have declined.”

Rubis added that all of the recommendations made by the government have been incorporated into a remediation action plan.

“We are in constant communication with the government of The Bahamas on all issues pertaining to the Robinson Road incident,” the company added.

Last week the government released a 2014 independent report prepared by Black and Veach International into the leak. That report found that area residents were possibly exposed to harmful chemicals.

According to the report, benzene was found in air samples in Cable Bahamas’ main building and in a ground water test well of one residential home.

The report said that while remediation efforts were appropriate for groundwater contamination, Rubis could have expedited its response to off-site impacts.

Rubis Bahamas is in the middle of a legal battle with Cable Bahamas. The company has a building adjacent to the gas station.

Cable Bahamas is suing Rubis and former operator Fiorente Management for up to $15m in damages, alleging that their “negligence” resulted in its property, mainly its customer service building, being contaminated by the 2012 gasoline leak.

Rubis and Fiorente Management are both resisting Cable Bahamas’ efforts to obtain a summary judgment against them, while blaming each other for the massive gasoline leak that sparked the initial claim.

Additionally, Marathon residents Adrianne and Richard Munroe have sued Rubis, seeking damages for personal injuries sustained and damage caused to their property.

According to court documents filed on April 10, the plaintiffs claim that the leak was caused by the “nuisance and or negligence of the defendants”.