Alberta Capital Wastewater Commission - conviction information for 2014-07-10

Corporation details
Corporation name: Alberta Capital Wastewater Commission
Address: 23262 Township road 540
City: Fort Sakatchewan
Province/territory: Alberta
Postal code: T8L 4A2
Country: Canada
Sector or industry:
Case details
Location of offense: Gibbons, Alberta
Case summary:

On August 10, 2012, Environment Canada received notification that a pumping station in Gibbons had failed, and was releasing raw sewage into the Sturgeon River, which is fish-bearing. Enforcement officers immediately responded to the scene and collected samples of the raw sewage bypassing the pumping station into the Sturgeon River. Subsequent sample analysis confirmed that the discharge was deleterious to fish. The ensuing investigation revealed that the ACRWC did not have the appropriate procedures in place to prevent the discharge. It is estimated that 500,000 litres of untreated sewage was discharged into the river over a period of approximately 12 hours.

On July 10, 2014, the Alberta Capital Region Wastewater Commission (ACRWC) plead guilty in Alberta Provincial Court to one count of an offence under the Fisheries Act, related to a release of untreated sewage into the Sturgeon River. The ACRWC was sentenced to a $200,000 penalty. 90% of the penalty will be paid into the Environmental Damages Fund (EDF) to promote the proper management and protection of fish or fish habitat in and around the area impacted.

Charges:
Not available
Enforcement notification:
Conviction
Result: Guilty Plea
Date of conviction: 2014-07-10
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: Not available
Legislative details
Act Regulations Section(s)
Pollution Prevention provisions (subsection 36(3)) of the Fisheries Act General Prohibition 36(3)
Sentencing
Date of sentencing: 2014-07-10
Location of sentencing: Alberta Provincial Court
Sentence(s):
  • Fine
Amount of fine(s): $200,000
Sentencing details:
ACRWC plead guilty to 1 count of violating s.36(3) of the Fisheries Act, a penalty of $200,000 was assessed (10% fine, remainder to EDF) plus the completion and implementation of the ACRWC emergency response plan.
Date modified: