Surrey, B.C. – Bird Construction Company Ltd. has been fined a total of $97,000 under the Fisheries Act after pleading guilty to polluting a creek in Surrey, Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced today. The conviction follows a month long investigation by fishery officers between December 9, 1998 and January 10, 1999. The construction site was part of the Surrey Memorial Hospital Expansion located at 94A Avenue. Of the $97,000 fine, $95,000 will be used for habitat restoration and/or fisheries conservation programs in the area. Bird Construction Company Ltd. admitted to depositing a deleterious substance in a place or conditions where it may enter fish–bearing waters and failing to comply with the terms and conditions of an Inspector’s Directions. Water testing during the investigation assessed that water runoff into Quibble Creek from the construction site settling pond and storm drain catch basins had pH levels at a value greater than 9.0. This pH level is considered harmful to aquatic life. Damage to fish gill tissue and fish eyes has been reported as a result of exposure to pH values of 9.0 units or greater. There was no observed fish kill caused by the discharges from the construction site. Coho salmon, cutthroat trout, and stickleback fish frequent Quibble Creek. The creek flows into the Serpentine River, which empties into the Pacific Ocean. Bird Construction has now committed to conducting internal environmental management programs which are intended to educate employees about the problems of high pH discharges and potential environmental impacts. Fisheries and Oceans Canada is concerned about activities that damage fish stocks and asks for assistance from the general public in providing information about suspected pollution or habitat destruction. Anyone with information is asked to call the toll-free violation reporting line at 1-800-465-4336. -30- For information:
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