Concerns over new school near propane tank depot

Nova Scotia's department of education is doing a risk assessment to decide whether it's safe for students to occupy a new $19-million school in Kentville.

The P-8 Kings County Academy is located next to a Superior Propane tank depot.

Construction of the school will be complete in March.

But when more than 500 students move in is the question.

"The department is assessing the situation to determine if there is an unacceptable risk to students and school staff," said Nova Scotia Education Department spokesperson Glenn Friel. "If it's determined that there is an unacceptable risk thenstudents will not occupy the school until the propane tanks are removed."

Two years ago the province chose the site on a promise from the town of Kentville that it would acquire the land and remove the tanks, which hasn't happened.

"The school board is concerned about moving students into the school with the tank there. So that is why we are doing the assessment," Friel told CBC News on Friday.

"I can assure the public we are working on it with Superior and certainly our goal is to have theproperty sometime in the near future," said Kentville Mayor Dave Corkum.

Corkum would not explain why negotiations have yet to be concluded.

"You don't move a large scale operation like they have without a proper location for it to go. It takes time and some of this is negotiation I am not at liberty to discuss," Corkum said.

The town is offering the company a new location in a nearby industrial park.

Superior Propane said its Kentville operation is safe but it is aware of the sensitivities of a school next to propane tanks.

"The move is not the issue," said Superior Propane spokesperson Vicki Warwaruk. "We agree to it. The timing, the cost and doing the move in the safest manner is the issue," Warwaruk said.

The company wants it costs covered by the town.

While Superior and Kentville continue their negotiations, the province is expecting the results of its risk assessment within the next couple of weeks.