Miramar Mining, Four Related Companies Charged with Offences Related to Fuel Spill

IQALUIT, Nunavut, May 30, 2006 – Environment Canada has laid charges against Miramar Mining Corporation of Vancouver and four related companies for alleged offences related to a fuel spill at a mining exploration camp at Windy Lake, Nunavut.

The charges resulted from an inspection and subsequent investigation by Environment Canada enforcement officers, following a report of a 19,000 litre fuel spill on June 16, 2004, at the camp.

The charges include alleged violations of subsection 36(3) of the federal Fisheries Act, section 13 of the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, and paragraphs 12(1)(a), 12(1)(b), and section 87 of the Nunavut Waters and Nunavut Surface Rights Tribunal Act.

Subsection 36(3) of the Fisheries Act protects water frequented by fish from the direct and indirect deposit of any substance that is deleterious to fish and aquatic life. The Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 protects migratory birds from the deposit of any substance that is harmful to them. The applicable sections of the Nunavut Waters and Nunavut Surface Rights Tribunal Act protect Nunavut waters from the deposit of waste.

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