First Jail Sentence Under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act - UPDATE: Charges Against Company and President Withdrawn

ST. CATHARINES, Ontario, February 27, 2006 - Mr. Jeffrey Dressler pleaded guilty on July 22, 2005, to two charges under the Export and Import of Hazardous Waste Regulations made pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. He received a sentence of 30 days on each count, to be served concurrently. The charges were related to actions taken by Mr. Dressler while employed by Battery Broker Environmental Services Inc. of Etobicoke, Ontario.

Judge Lacavera heard that on December 18, 2003, and on March 19, 2004, while working for Battery Broker Environmental Services Inc., Mr. Dressler oversaw the export of more than 37,800 kilograms of waste batteries for recycling to the United States.

There were no permits in place authorizing the exports. In addition, Mr. Dressler failed to ensure that copies of the relevant waste manifests were forwarded to Environment Canada, as required. It was his responsibility to do so on behalf of the company.

Charges were laid on February 25, 2005, after a year-long investigation by Environment Canada. A court appearance for Battery Broker Environmental Services Inc. and its President on September 13, 2005, in St. Catharine’s, Ontario resulted in the matter being held over to October 20, 2005. At that time, all charges against the company and its President were withdrawn. Through a diversion agreement reached between Crown and defense counsel, Battery Broker Environmental Services Inc. paid $5,000 to the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority for environmental projects in the Niagara Region.

NOTE TO EDITORS: This an update of a press release issued by Environment Canada on July 27, 2005, to reflect the final resolution of the court case.

For more information, please contact:

Bradley May
Head, Investigations Section
Environment Canada
(416) 739-5901

Jack Saunders
Communications Advisor/
Media Relations
Environment Canada
(416) 739-4785