HARVEST OPERATIONS CORP. PLEADS GUILTY AND IS FINED $125,000 FOR CAUSING
DEATH TO MIGRATORY BIRDS

MEDICINE HAT, AB, Nov. 19 /CNW/ - Harvest Operations Corporation, of Calgary Alberta was fined $125,000 after pleading guilty yesterday in provincial court in Medicine Hat, Alberta to one count under subsection 5.1(1) of the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, for the deposit of a substance harmful to migratory birds in waters or an area frequented by birds. This fine will be paid to the federal Environmental Damages Fund (EDF).

Approximately 14,500 litres of crude oil were discharged from an oil well site near Ralston, Alberta, on September 8, 2008, due to a bridge plug failure and improperly sealed well bore. The spill affected 1,200 square metres of land in the southwest corner of Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Suffield. The site is approximately 48km from the CFB Suffield National Wildlife Area.

An investigation by Environment Canada and Alberta Sustainable Resource Development discovered that about 300 birds including migratory birds, songbirds and raptors died by landing in the spilled product. No waterways were impacted.

Environment Canada enforces federal wildlife and environmental laws including the Canada Wildlife Act, the Species at Risk Act, the pollution provisions of the Fisheries Act, the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, and the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act as well as the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (1999). These laws help ensure that companies, government departments and agencies, and the public comply with legislation and regulations protecting the environment and conserving nature.

The Environmental Damages Fund was created in 1995 to provide courts with a mechanism to direct that monetary penalties and settlements be invested for the repair of the actual harm done to the environment. It helps ensure the "polluter pays" principle is applied and that polluters take responsibility for their actions.

(Également offert en français)                                                    

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