People in Arviat, Nunavut, push back on proposed site for fuel tank farm

Nooks Lindell was sitting in his home, having tea with his cousin, two summers ago when he saw a group of people working out on the land outside his home. 

He later learned the people were surveyors looking at the land as the potential site of Arviat's new fuel tank farm. 

"I was shocked. I was pretty upset," Lindell said of finding out about the potential tank farm location. 

Lindell lives in the home where he grew up in Arviat. He and his partner are raising their two young children there.

"I spent the last two years at home being a stay at home ataata (father) … so I've spent a lot of time looking out the window right where they're going to put that tank farm," he said. 

Two years later, Lindell and his neighbours have formed a community group and launched a petition opposing the location of the new tank farm.

They've also written to Community and Government Services Minister David Joanasie. 

Lindell said the group agrees a new tank farm is needed because the current tanks can't hold enough fuel for the growing community. 

"I don't think anybody has ever said that we don't want a new tank farm. It's the 'where' that we are opposed to," Lindell said. 

"It's very close to the water, it's right on the shoreline. And it's very, very close to houses."

Lindell said he and his neighbours have brought their concerns to the hamlet council and the territorial government, but without a feeling of success. 

"It's hard to get a really clear answer," Lindell said. 

Joanasie told CBC he has received the letter and deferred an interview, saying he didn't want to comment until the hamlet council has fully reviewed the issue. 

Lindell and his neighbours are also worried about potential fuel contamination and the impact a fuel tank farm could have on wildlife in the area.