Minister Sufficiently Satisfied After Equinor Tour

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – “Sufficiently satisfied,” that’s how Vaughn Miller, Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources, feels about clean-up efforts of the Equinor oil spill in east Grand Bahama.

During hurricane Dorian in 2019, five million gallons of oil were spilled at the South Riding Point Facility. Since then, clean-up teams have been working on the spill.

In the past, local environmental activist Joseph Darville has expressed concerns that there was still oil residual on the ground, after Press Secretary Clint Watson’s announcement that the government was satisfied with clean-up efforts.

Since Darville’s claims, Miller says they’ve conducted a number of tests, to ensure that Equinor is in compliance.

He says he looks forward to meeting with Darville while on the island.

The ownership of Equinor is in transition, and the minister says they have met briefly with the potential owners, but looking forward to more meetings.

Meanwhile, clean-up is ongoing and there are now reforestation, efforts thanks to a partnership with Equinor and the University of The Bahamas.

As for the results of that oil spill clean-up, Miller says those findings will be released soon.