Court Bulletin

For immediate release
November 4, 2009

CASCADES CANADA INC. FINED $175,000 FOR LAGOON DISCHARGE

BELLEVILLE – On October 27, 2009, Cascades Canada Inc. pleaded guilty to one offence of discharging a material into the Trent River that impaired water quality, as well as failing to do everything practical to prevent the adverse effect of the discharge and restore the natural environment. The company was fined $175,000 plus a victim fine surcharge and given one year to pay.

The Court heard that the company operates a pulp and paper production facility in the City of Quinte West. The facility produces a waste material known as black liquor that contains a variety of contaminants.

A January 2007 inspection revealed that the level of black liquor in the site’s lagoon was above its rubber liner and was discharging and ponding in the immediate area. The inspection noted that the liquor was flowing to a catch basin and a ditch that eventually discharged into the Trent River. The ministry advised facility staff that the lagoon level had to be brought down and the ditch had to be pumped out and remediated immediately to stop the discharge. Another inspection two days later revealed that there had been no attempt made to reduce the lagoon level or stem the flows in the offsite ditch leading to the Trent River.

The company was charged following an investigation by the ministry’s Investigations and Enforcement Branch.

The company pleaded guilty to discharging or causing or permitting the discharge of a material, namely black liquor, that may impair water quality.  It also pleaded guilty to, being the owner of a pollutant, namely, black liquor, that was spilled, causing an adverse effect and did fail to do everything practicable to prevent, eliminate and ameliorate the adverse effect and to restore the natural environment.

Justice of the Peace Donna Chapelle heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice in Bellville, Ontario and imposed sentence on October 27, 2009.

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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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