NORTH BAY, Ont. -- March 2, 2011 -- Ontario Northland Transportation Commission pleaded guilty yesterday to one charge of depositing a deleterious substance into fish-bearing waters in contravention of the Fisheries Act.
The conviction results from a train derailment that occurred on March 30, 2007, near Englehart, Ontario, resulting in a spill of approximately 220 tonnes of sulphuric acid, some of which went into Miller Creek, and subsequently into Blanche River. The Ontario Northland Transportation Commission was fined $60,000, of which $50,000 will be directed to the Environmental Damages Fund and $10,000 to the Clerk of the Court, Ontario Court of Justice.
In investigating this case, Environment Canada worked with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ontario's Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ontario Provincial Police, the North Bay Police Service and the Competition Bureau of Canada.
Environment Canada has been assigned responsibility for administration and enforcement of the Fisheries Act provisions dealing with the deposit of deleterious substances into water frequented by fish.
For more information, please contact:
Veronica Petrò
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
819-997-1441
Media Relations
Environment Canada
819-934-8008
1-888-908-8008
