Bakken Crude, Crude By Rail, Derailment, Disaster compensation, Explosion, Fire, Lac-Mégantic

Some Lac-Mégantic property owners receive compensation: first installment from Quebec

Repost from The Montreal Gazette

Lac-Mégantic property owners receive compensation instalment from Quebec

Presse Canadienne, November 24, 2014
The North Dakota Petroleum Council released a study Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at the Williston Basin Petroleum Conference and Expo in Bismarck saying Bakken oil is similar to other light crudes and does not pose a greater risk to transport by rail than other flammable liquids. Oil trains in the U.S. and Canada were involved in at least eight major accidents during the last year, including an explosion in Lac-Megantic.
In this July 9, 2013 file photo, workers comb through debris after an oil train derailed and exploded in the town of Lac-Megantic, Quebec, killing 47. | Paul Chiasson / THE CANADIAN PRESS

The provincial government announced Monday that the first instalment of money set aside to compensate owners of buildings destroyed in the explosion and fire in Lac Mégantic has been transferred.

A total of $1.8 million has been sent to the town. A notary will disburse the funds to nine owners. Others will be paid later.

On July 6, 2013, a train belonging to the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway loaded with crude oil rolled unmanned into Lac Mégantic and derailed, causing explosions and fireballs.

This is just the first phase of the payout scheme. Other property owners will be getting cheques totalling $8 million before the end of the year.

In total, the government has earmarked $60 million for the reconstruction and relaunch of the town after the devastating fire that killed 47 people and decimated the downtown area.

Of that $60 million, a maximum of $37 million has been set aside to compensate people whose properties were damaged.