Domtar Incorporated Espanola Mill - conviction information for 2013-12-17

Corporation details
Corporation name: Domtar Incorporated Espanola Mill
Address: 1 Station Road
City: Espanola
Province/territory: Ontario
Postal code: P5E 1R6
Country: Canada
Sector or industry:
Case details
Location of offense: 1 Station Road, Espanola , Ontario
Case summary:

Domtar Inc. was sentenced on December 17, 2013, in Ontario Provincial Court for violating the Fisheries Act and was ordered to pay $75,000, of which $67,500 will be directed to the Government of Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund.

Domtar Inc. pleaded guilty to one count pursuant to subsection 36(3) of the Fisheries Act for offences occurring at its mill in Espanola, Ontario, between December 14 and 16 of 2010. Domtar Inc. failed to adhere to the regulatory limits for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and thereby deposited effluent that was deleterious to fish, contrary to the Fisheries Act. Discharge of BOD matter into water leads to the consumption of oxygen in the receiving water which may render the water uninhabitable to fish and other aquatic organisms.

Environment Canada's enforcement personnel conduct inspections and investigations under a number of acts and regulations including the Fisheries Act. They help ensure that companies, government entities and the general public comply with legislation and regulations that protect Canada's environment.

The Government of Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund, which is administered by Environment Canada, was created in 1995 to provide a mechanism for directing funds received as a result of fines, court orders and voluntary payments to priority projects that will benefit our environment.

Charges:

Not available

Enforcement notification: Domtar must pay $75,000 for violations of Fisheries Act
Conviction
Result: Guilty Plea
Date of conviction: 2013-12-17
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: Domtar Inc. failed to adhere to the regulatory limits for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and thereby deposited effluent that was deleterious to fish, contrary to the Fisheries Act. Discharge of BOD matter into water leads to the consumption of oxygen in the receiving water which may render the water uninhabitable to fish and other aquatic organisms.
Legislative details
Act Regulations Section(s)
Pollution Prevention provisions (subsection 36(3)) of the Fisheries Act General Prohibition 36(3)
Sentencing
Date of sentencing: 2013-12-20
Location of sentencing: ONTARIO COURT OF JUSTICE (North Region)
Sentence(s):
  • Fine
Amount of fine(s): $75,000
Sentencing details:

Domtar Inc. pleaded guilty to one count pursuant to subsection 36(3) of the Fisheries Act for offences occurring at its mill in Espanola, Ontario, between December 14 and 16 of 2010. Domtar Inc. failed to adhere to the regulatory limits for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and thereby deposited effluent that was deleterious to fish, contrary to the Fisheries Act. Discharge of BOD matter into water leads to the consumption of oxygen in the receiving water which may render the water uninhabitable to fish and other aquatic organisms.


Domtar Inc. was sentenced on December 17, 2013, in Ontario Provincial Court for violating the Fisheries Act and was ordered to pay $75,000, of which $67,500 will be directed to the Government of Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund.
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