Samples are being collected from two areas of the old Grace Hospital property in St. John’s after an assessment conducted last year identified hydrocarbons at the site.

The environmental site assessment was part of ongoing evaluation of the property for future use.

The previous government had identified the old Grace property as the location for a new health centre in the downtown area.

Plans for the facility have changed and will now include services not available at nearby St. Clare’s

A drill rig is on site collecting soil samples for further assessment.