News Release

For immediate release
December 13, 2007

HARMAC TRANSPORTATION INC. FINED A TOTAL OF $30,000 FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH MINISTRY REGULATIONS

SARNIA — Harmac Transportation Inc. has been fined $30,000, plus a victim fine surcharge, after pleading guilty to violating the Environmental Protection Act.

The Court heard that on April 14, 2006, Irving Oil Ltd. consigned a load of liquid spent caustic for transport in Saint John, New Brunswick.  Spent caustic is sodium hydroxide liquid and considered liquid hazardous waste under Ontario’s Environmental Protection Act.  Transportation of the sodium hydroxide through Ontario was handled by Harmac Transportation Inc.  Due to a human error by Harmac dispatch, the liquid was identified as a product rather than as a waste and the wrong driver and vehicles were assigned to transport the load.  There was no environmental impact as a result of this error.  At the time, the company had only one qualified driver to handle the liquid as waste.

Harmac Transportation Inc. was charged following an investigation by the Ministry of the Environment’s Investigations and Enforcement Branch.

Harmac Transportation Inc. pled guilty to eight counts of violating regulation 347 under the Environmental Protection Act, regarding the proper transport of wastes.  Harmac Transportation Inc. was fined a total of $30,000, plus a victim surcharge, and given six months to pay.

Justice of the Peace Helen Gale heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice in Sarnia, Ontario, and imposed sentence on November 30, 2007.

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For further information

Members of the media:
John Steele Communications Branch (416) 314-6666
Contact information for the general public: 416-325-4000 or 1-800-565-4923/ www.ontario.ca/environment

 

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