$3 Million Penalty Imposed for Discharges of About 125 Million Litres of Effluent

Environment and Climate Change Canada investigated multiple incidents resulting in a company’s discharge of approximately 125 million litres of effluent into the Columbia River between Nov. 28, 2013, and Feb. 5, 2015. The company pleaded guilty to three violations of the federal Fisheries Act and was ordered to pay a $3 million penalty to the Environmental Damages Fund for fish habitat and fisheries restoration projects in the Kootenay River or Columbia River watersheds. In addition, the company agreed to undertake on-site improvement projects to prevent future incidents that will cost $50 million to implement [Teck Metals Ltd., Govt. News Release, March 4, 2016].