Akzo Nobel Chemicals Ltd. Charged with Fisheries Act Violations

 Akzo Nobel Chemicals Ltd. and former plant manager Grant E. J. Flory appeared in Saskatoon Provincial Court yesterday, to answer to one charge each of violating subsection 36(3) of the federal Fisheries Act.

It is alleged that over 1400 litres of Redicote C-2914, which is deleterious or harmful to fish and aquatic life, was spilled into the plant effluent system and was later discharged to the South Saskatchewan River. The charges were laid following an investigation by Environment Canada into an August 10, 2002 spill, which is alleged to have been caused by the unsupervised loading of a truck at the Akzo Nobel Chemicals Ltd. plant in Saskatoon.

The case was held over until December 14, 2004 in Saskatoon Provincial Court.

Subsection 36(3) of the Fisheries Act protects fish-bearing waters from the deposit of any substance that is deleterious or harmful to fish and aquatic life.

First offences under subsection 36(3) of the Fisheries Act are punishable by a fine of up to $300,000 for each offence. Subsequent offences are punishable by a fine of up to $300,000, a term of imprisonment of up to six months, or both.

Environment Canada investigates alleged offences under the Fisheries Act and the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, in order to ensure compliance with legislation and regulations that protect the Canadian environment.