Investigation Results in a Guilty Plea and $100,000 Penalty

TERRACE, British Columbia, November 14, 2006 – On September 26, 2006, West Fraser Mills Ltd., pled guilty in the Provincial Court of British Columbia to one count of depositing a deleterious substance into water frequented by fish, contrary to subsection 36(3) of the federal Fisheries Act, and to one count of failing to comply with the requirements of a permit contrary to subsection 54(6) of the British Columbia Waste Management Act.

Enforcement Officers from Environment Canada's Central and Northern British Columbia Enforcement Section conducted an investigation with the assistance of the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service and Fisheries and Oceans Canada into a spill that occurred at the Eurocan Mill in Kitimat, BC between December 11 and 12, 2002.

The investigation revealed that the systems designed to contain spills in emergencies at the Eurocan Mill were deficient, and as a result pulp mill effluent containing weak black liquor was spilled into Symes Creek. Samples were collected from Symes Creek and subsequent acute toxicity testing of these samples resulted in a 100% mortality of rainbow trout test subjects. As a result of the investigation, charges were laid against West Fraser in December 2004. An agreed statement of facts was jointly filed with the court by Crown and defence counsel.

As a result, West Fraser was sentenced to a financial penalty totalling $100,000, comprising fines of $2,000 and a payment of $49,000 into the Conservation Trust Fund of British Columbia for habitat development and preservation. It also included a payment of $49,000 to the University of Northern British Columbia to support their Environmental Science program, which is directed at the conservation and protection of fish and fish habitat in northwestern British Columbia.

Environment Canada investigates alleged offences under a number of Acts and Regulations including the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (1999); the pollution provisions of the Fisheries Act; and the Migratory Birds Act and Regulation, with the objective of ensuring companies, governments and the general public comply with legislation and regulations that protect the Canadian environment.

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