Court Bulletin

For immediate release
November 12, 2008

C.J. Rental & Contracting ltd. fined $7,000 for diesel spill and pays over $23,900 in restitution

KAPUSKASING - On October 21, 2008, C.J. Rental & Contracting Ltd. pleaded guilty to failing to do everything practicable to prevent, eliminate and ameliorate the spill of a pollutant, namely diesel fuel, that caused or was likely to cause an adverse effect, contrary to the Environmental Protection Act.

The court heard that C.J. Rental & Contracting Ltd. is a construction company located in Manitoba. On April 1, 2006, a truck that the company had purchased in Montreal was en route to Manitoba when one of its fuel tanks detached, spilling diesel along a road and a residential driveway in Kapuskasing. A local spill clean-up company immediately undertook measures to contain the spilled fuel, and later, at the request of the Town of Kapuskasing, completely cleaned up the spilled fuel, which involved removing and disposing of contaminated soil and numerous stained interlocking stones from the driveway.

C.J. Rental & Contracting Ltd. was charged following an investigation by the ministry’s Investigations and Enforcement Branch. The company was fined $7,000 plus a victim fine surcharge. Payment was made immediately to the Court. As part of the resolution agreement, the company also immediately paid a total of $11,653.70 to the Town and to the owner of the driveway for all outstanding costs associated with the clean-up and restoration of the natural environment. This restitution was in addition to the $12,286.16 the company had already paid towards the initial clean-up.

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For further information:
Members of the media: Kate Jordan 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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