Rio Tinto Alcan Inc. - conviction information for 2018-04-24

Corporation details
Corporation name: Rio Tinto Alcan Inc.
Address: 400-1190 Canadiens-de-Montéal Avenue
City: Montreal
Province/territory: Quebec
Postal code: H3B 0E3
Country: Canada
Sector or industry: 331 - Primary metal manufacturing
Case details
Location of offense: Rio Tinto Alcan inc., Saguenay, Quebec
Case summary:

In Jonquière, Saguenay, Rio Tinto Inc. operates an industrial complex made up of two plants, Arvida and Vaudreuil, specializing in aluminium and alumina production.

On December 13, 2016, Rio Tinto Inc.’s Arvida plant carried out descaling work on a steam boiler using a hydrochloric acid solution. During the descaling, a leak was detected in the isolation valve that usually prevents acid from leaking into the sewer system connected to an outfall into the Saguenay River. The pH levels recorded at the outfall between December 13 and 15, 2016, stood at about 3.5.

One thousand seven hundred litres of acid solution were released into the Saguenay.

Charges:
Not available
Enforcement notification: Rio Tinto Alcan Inc. is fined $100,000 for violating the Fisheries Act
Conviction
Result: Guilty Plea
Date of conviction: 2018-04-24
Court level: Provincial and Territorial Court
Nature of offense(s):
  • Allowed the deposit of a deleterious substance
Additional details about the nature of the offense:
Legislative details
Act Regulations Section(s)
Pollution Prevention provisions (subsection 36(3)) of the Fisheries Act 40(2)b)(ii)(A)
Sentencing
Date of sentencing: 2018-04-24
Location of sentencing: Saguenay
Sentence(s):
  • Fine
Amount of fine(s): $100,000
Sentencing details:
On April 24, 2018, Rio Tinto Alcan Inc. pleaded guilty, in the Court of Quebec in Saguenay, Chicoutimi District, to violating subsection 36(3) of the Fisheries Act for releasing a deleterious substance into water frequented by fish. The company was fined $100,000, which will be directed to the Environmental Damages Fund to be used for conservation and protection of fish and fish habitat and the restoration of fish habitat. This money will be invested in the Saguenay – Lac-Saint-Jean Region.
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