Court Bulletin

For immediate release
November 21, 2008

WILHELM WOLFERT FINED $25,000 FOR WASTE DISCHARGES INTO SCANLON CREEK

BARRIE — Wilhelm Wolfert has been fined $25,000 plus a victim fine surcharge, after pleading guilty on October 29, 2008 to five violations under the Ontario Water Resources Act, namely for discharging high organic strength effluent and high strength organic carrot processing waste onto lands and waters that drain into Scanlon Creek.  Wilhelm Wolfert was given 24 months to pay the fine.

The Court heard that Wilhelm Wolfert is a Director of a company that operates a vegetable washing and processing facility in the Town of Bradford, West Gwillimbury in Simcoe County.  The company collects the process water from the plant into a series of sewage lagoons located on site, which is then spray irrigated onto an adjacent field.  Inspection by ministry staff revealed both uncontrolled discharges of processing effluent from various sources at the facility and runoff from the spray irrigation activities, discharging into Scanlon Creek.

Wilhelm Wolfert was charged following an investigation by the Ministry of the Environment’s Investigations and Enforcement Branch.

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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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