The World : Canada to Check U.S. Fuel

Canada closed 125 U.S. border crossings to petroleum tankers after reports that some U.S. companies are blending toxic wastes into gasoline and selling the fuel in both countries. A joint special unit is also being formed to investigate the reports of contaminated gasoline shipments, Canadian Environment Minister Lucien Bouchard said. He said the border closures will permit better inspection of tankers at the remaining 50 crossings. The Toronto Globe and Mail newspaper reported last week that solvents, toxic PCBs and waste oil have been mixed into fuels by several firms in New York to save disposal costs and that the mixture has been sold to unsuspecting customers.