Nova Scotia rail line inspections appropriate, provincial government says

HALIFAX – Nova Scotia’s Transportation Department says it has received assurances from Transport Canada that an appropriate inspection process is in place for a rail line through the province’s northeast and Cape Breton.

Last month, Transportation Minister Geoff MacLellan said he wanted to seek those assurances in light of a report that found 18 key factors in last year’s fatal railcar explosion in Lac-Megantic, Que.

A spokeswoman for the province’s Transportation Department says Transport Canada has since assured the province that the appropriate inspection followups are taking place.

Pam Menchenton says further inspections will be carried out this fall and any concerns will be addressed in a timely manner.

In an email, Menchenton says Transport Canada conducted an inspection of the entire mainland line about two weeks ago and nothing was found that required immediate attention.

She says a decision hasn’t been made yet on a request from several municipalities to conduct additional inspections.