News Release

For immediate release
December 4, 2003

TRIPLE M METAL FINED $30,000

MISSISSAUGA – 2001116 Ontario Limited, carrying on business as Triple M Metal, has been fined $30,000, plus a 25-percent victim fine surcharge, after being convicted of an offence under the Ontario Water Resources Act (OWRA).

Triple M Metal is a metal recycling operation located on Intermodal Drive in the City of Brampton. The Court heard that at the time leading up to the offence the company was storing scrap metal in piles outdoors, and some of the metal was covered in cutting oil that was often washed off by rain. The rainwater along with the cutting oil was diverted to a large stormwater management detention pond located on the company’s property.

On April 11, 2002 a disconnection of an overflow pipe caused the rainwater and cutting oil in the stormwater management detention pond to be discharged into Mimico Creek. It was estimated that the discharge carried on for approximately half a day, allowing approximately 500 cubic metres of stormwater to enter the creek. The cutting oil component of the discharge was water-soluble, and caused the creek water to become opaque and milky white in appearance.

Triple M Metal was convicted under section 30(1) of the OWRA and was fined $30,000, for permitting the discharge of a substance into Mimico Creek that may have impaired the quality of the water.

To date, the company has spent over $550,000 on cleanup and remediation efforts, and upgrading its stormwater management system. Estimated future costs to finalize the proposed permanent stormwater management plan are in the range of an additional $750,000.

Justice of the Peace Meena Nadkarni heard the case on November 14, 2003 in the Ontario Court of Justice in Mississauga.

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Contact:
Mark Rabbior
Communications Branch
Ministry of the Environment
(416) 314-6666