Company fined for killing birds

BORDEN-CARLETON, Prince Edward Island. March 20, 2002 - Tufco Flooring (Maritimes) Limited, Grand Falls, N.B., was today fined $5,000 after pleading guilty to violating Section 35(1) of the Regulations to the Migratory Birds Convention Act, (1994). In addition, Tufco will make a payment of $5,000 to The Environmental Damages Fund administered by Environment Canada.

Tufco will also publish guidelines and standards for its employees concerning the handling and disposition of toxic substances.

Environment Canada laid charges against the company following an investigation concerning the death of gulls at the McCain Foods (Canada) Borden-Carleton plant location. McCain Foods was not charged with any offence.

McCain Foods contracted with Tufco to have floors in the boiler and compressor rooms at the plant location refinished in the fall of 2000. The work was started and completed December 27-29, 2000, and involved the use of a chemical floor stripper, containing dichloromethane.

The used paint stripper residue was ultimately placed in dumpsters outside the plant where some of the used product was consumed by the gulls and some died as a result.

Environment Canada acknowledged that Tufco was not aware at the time that there was a possibility the paint-stripping product might be consumed by wildlife.

McCain Foods will make a contribution of $15,000 to the Environmental Damage Fund administered by Environment Canada which will be used to educate industry stakeholders in the handling and disposal of toxic substances.

For further information, contact:
Guy Lafranchise
Environment Canada
Canadian Wildlife Service
(506) 851-2900