Fibrek s.e.n.c. - conviction information for 2017-02-09

Case details
Location of offense:	4000 St-Eusèbe Road, Saint-Félicien, Quebec
Case summary:	Fibrek S.E.N.C. produces northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) pulp and has been in operation since 1978. In 2012, Fibrek joined the Resolute Forest Products family. The Saint-Félicien facility has an annual production capacity of 356,000 metric tonnes. Between 2008 and 2013 a number of acutely lethal releases occurred at the Saint-Félicien facility, in violation of the Fisheries Act. In January 2011, an inspector’s direction was issued to Fibrek S.E.N.C. and its senior leadership. In January 2013, an investigation was launched into the release of 41 acutely lethal effluents and the failure to inform ECCC of the acutely lethal releases, over a period from 2010 to 2013. Charges were laid in June 2016.
Charges:	Not available
Enforcement notification:	Fibrek S.E.N.C. fined $125,000 for depositing harmful substances in rivers

Conviction
Result:	Guilty (Court Decision)
Date of conviction:	2017-02-09
Court level:	Provincial and Territorial Court
Nature of offense(s):	Other
Additional details about the nature of the offense:	Not available

Legislative details
Act	Regulations	Section(s)
Pollution Prevention provisions (subsection 36(3)) of the Fisheries Act	General Prohibition	36(3), 38(7)

Sentencing
Date of sentencing:	2017-02-09
Location of sentencing:	Roberval, QC
Sentence(s):	Fine
Amount of fine(s):	$125,000
Sentencing details:	On February 9, 2017, before the Quebec Court of Justice, Fibrek S.E.N.C. was found guilty of two charges and was fined $125,000 for violating the Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations, thereby committing offences under the Fisheries Act. The investigation conducted by ECCC revealed that Fibrek S.E.N.C. had committed several offences, namely: o Depositing acutely lethal effluent from its water treatment system; o Failing to file the required report in the case of depositing deleterious substance in waters frequented by fish.