Canadian dredging company fined $350K for unlawful deposit of deleterious substance in Fraser River estuary
February 27, 2019 – Surrey, British Columbia – Environment and Climate Change Canada
Canadians value a safe and clean environment. Environment and Climate Change Canada’s enforcement officers work hard each day to enforce the laws that protect Canada’s wildlife, air, water, and natural environment.
On February 20, 2019, Fraser River Pile and Dredge (GP) Inc. was fined $350,000 in the Provincial Court of British Columbia, after pleading guilty to depositing a deleterious substance into water frequented by fish, in violation of the Fisheries Act. The penalty will be directed to the Government of Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund.
In February 2014, Fraser River Pile and Dredge (GP) Inc. was dredging in Deas Slough, in the Fraser River, when its dredging vessel punctured a submerged water main carrying chlorinated water to the Corporation of Delta. Environment and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers investigated the incident and determined that chlorinated water was released through the ruptured pipe into Deas Slough, an important fish-bearing body of water. The concentration of chlorine in the water released to Deas Slough was deleterious to fish.
As a result of this conviction, the company’s name will be added to the Environmental Offenders Registry.
Quick facts
- Environment and Climate Change Canada is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the pollution prevention provisions of the Fisheries Act, which prohibit the deposit of deleterious substances into water frequented by fish.
- Created in 1995, the Environmental Damages Fund is a Government of Canada program administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada. The Fund follows the “polluter pays” principle and ensures that court-awarded penalties are used to support projects with positive environmental impacts.
- The Environmental Offenders Registry contains information on convictions of corporations for offences committed under certain federal environmental laws.
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Contacts
Media Relations
Environment and Climate Change Canada
819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll-free)
ec.media.ec@canada.ca
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