Mishaps occur in life. When they happen in the environmental protection profession, there is usually a price to pay, in some cases a steep price. The profiles below involve one six-figure fine; the others are relatively early in the evaluation or hearing process.
Six-Figure Fine
A Nova Scotia mining company violated the federal Fisheries Act and will pay a six-figure fine as a result.
According to the release from the Government of Canada, Atlantic Mining NS Inc. pleaded guilty in the Provincial Court of Nova Scotia to one count of contravening the Fisheries Act.
The February 3, 2022, news release states, “The company (Atlantic Mining NS Inc.), was fined $125,000, of which $120,000 will be directed to the Government of Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund, with the remaining $5,000 being a court fine. The company was also fined $125,000 under Nova Scotia’s Environment Act, $120,000 of which will be directed to Indigenous environmental organizations in Nova Scotia, with the remaining $5,000 being a court fine.”
The news release goes on to say that an investigation by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) enforcement officers determined that there were seven separate incidents of unauthorized deposits of deleterious substances into water frequented by fish at the Touquoy mine site in 2018 and 2019. The company failed to immediately collect samples from the area for acute lethality testing and failed to report the results to ECCC following the incidents, as required by the Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations under the Fisheries Act.
Because of the violation, Atlantic Mining NS Inc. will be added to the Environmental Offenders Registry.
Mineral Oil Released to the Don River
In what appears to be turning out as a relatively minor issue, Hydro One says cleanup is underway as a result of a mineral oil leak in the Don River.
According to news reports, “Nancy Clark, a spokesperson for Hydro One, said one of the company’s transformers at the Bathurst Transmission Station in North York failed early Friday (2.18.22), resulting in insulating mineral oil being released.”
As of February 19, 2022, it was reported that vacuum trucks and absorbent oil booms were being used to collect the oil that had spilled.
No additional details were available, including any information regarding potential fines associated with the spill.Preview Changes (opens in a new tab)
Protecting our natural resources is important for all Canadians (Photo Credit: Elijah Hiett on Unsplash).
Untreated Wastewater Discharged
Algoma Steel’s facility in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario is facing two provincial charges for allegedly releasing untreated wastewater in the Saint Marys River.
Soo Today provides the following, “According to court documents, the company faces one charge under the Ontario Water Resources Act and another under the Environmental Protection Act.” Both charges stem from an incident that occurred on October 18, 2019.
The pollutants allegedly discharged to the river are cyanide, phenol, and total ammonia nitrogen.
Again from the newspaper account, “The measurement of cyanide was 165% of the regulated limit. Ontario’s Annual Environmental Penalty Report for 2019 shows that Algoma Steel was twice issued fines for wastewater exceedances including cyanide that year. The exceedances of phenol and total ammonia nitrogen were approximately 37 and five times their regulated limits, respectively.”
The first hearing took place on February 9, 2022. They will reconvene on June 8, 2022.
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