SAINT JOHN, New Brunswick, December 13, 2004 - Following a successful investigation by Environment Canada's Enforcement Officers, Irving Pulp and Paper plead guilty today in New Brunswick provincial court for a violation of Canada's Fisheries Act.

Irving Pulp and Paper plead guilty to a violation that occurred on December 3, 2002 when the company deposited untreated paper mill effluent into Little River in Saint John during a test of a back-up generator. Under the federal Fisheries Act, it is an offence to deposit, or to permit the deposition, of a deleterious substance into water frequented by fish.

The penalty of $30,000 includes a $2,500 fine to be paid to the court, $22,500 to be directed to environmental research by the Biology Department of the University of New Brunswick in Saint John and $5,000 to be paid to the Government of Canada's Environmental Damages Fund, administered by Environment Canada.

The Environmental Damages Fund was created in 1995 to provide courts and companies with a way to ensure that the money from pollution fines and settlements would be directly invested in repairing the harm done by pollution. It helps ensure the "polluter pays" principle is applied and that polluters take responsibility for their actions. The money in the Fund is allocated to local organizations, and typically they find various partners that contribute additional money and other resources. In the period between April 1, 2003, and March 31, 2004, more than $1.2 million was awarded to the Fund for environmental restoration and other court directed benefits across the country.

Environment Canada investigates potential pollution offences under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 and Canada's Fisheries Act. They help ensure that companies, government employees and the general public comply with legislation and regulations that protect Canada's environment.

For more information, please contact:
York Friesen
Office of Enforcement
Environment Canada, Atlantic Region
(902) 426-7530