ARICHAT, NOVA SCOTIA , May 6, 2004 - Emera Fuels Inc. has pled guilty in the Provincial Court of Nova Scotia to depositing diesel fuel, a deleterious substance, into L'Archeveque Harbour, contrary to subsection 36(3) of the federal Fisheries Act. A charge against the driver of the Emera Fuels truck was dropped.

The conviction relates to an incident in July 2003, when hundreds of litres of diesel fuel were pumped into the bilge of a fishing vessel in error, and the bilge pump discharged the fuel into the harbour.

A provincial court judge ordered Emera Fuels Inc. to pay a financial penalty of $20,000, which includes a fine of $5,000 and a payment of $15,000 to the federal government's Environmental Damages Fund, which is administered by Environment Canada.

The Environmental Damages Fund is rooted in the “polluter pays” principle, and courts can use the Fund to ensure that compensation is provided by convicted polluters for the damage that they cause to the environment. The Fund also gives the court a way to ensure that financial penalties imposed under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 and the Fisheries Act are used for environmental protection purposes.

The charges were laid as a result of an investigation by Environment Canada Enforcement, Atlantic Region Office. Environment Canada's enforcement personnel investigate potential pollution offences under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) and the federal Fisheries Act. They help ensure that companies, government employees, and the general public comply with legislation and regulations that protect Atlantic Canada's environment.

For more information on Environment Canada's Atlantic Region programs please visit the Green Lane at: http://www.atl.ec.gc.ca/index_e.html

For further information, please contact:
Micheline Savard
Investigator
Environment Canada
(902) 426-6895