Spill into River Results in $150,000 Penalty for Pulp Mill

Environment Canada and the BC Ministry of Environment investigated a spill from a pulp mill that, over two days, released 209,344,000 litres of deleterious effluent into the Columbia River. They concluded that the mill failed to comply with its permit requirements. The mill was convicted of violating the BC Environmental Management Act. The court sentenced it to pay a $30,000 fine and $120,000 to the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation. In addition, the mill must post details about the conviction on its corporate website until July 31, 2013 [Zellstoff Celgar LP, Govt. News Release, July 26, 2012].