CRANBROOK, BC, July 11,
2024 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is committed to protecting the health,
safety, and environment of Canadians. Environment and Climate
Change Canada enforces the laws that protect the air, water, and
natural environment in Canada, and
it takes pollution incidents and threats to the environment very
seriously.
On July 10, 2024, Environment and
Climate Change Canada Enforcement laid five charges against Teck
Coal Limited for contraventions of subsection 36(3) of the
Fisheries Act. Under subsection 36(3) of the Fisheries
Act, it is prohibited to deposit or to permit the deposit of a
deleterious (harmful) substance into water frequented by fish, or
in any place where the deleterious substance may enter any such
water.
The charges stem from an investigation opened by Environment and
Climate Change Canada enforcement officers on March 7, 2023. The investigation was conducted
into alleged deleterious (harmful) deposits into Dry
Creek on Teck Coal Limited's Line Creek
Operations Mine in British
Columbia, and the adjacent Fording River.
All charges are currently before the Court, and they have not
yet been proven. Under Canadian law, those charged are presumed
innocent until proven guilty. Therefore, Environment and Climate
Change Canada will not be commenting further at this time.
Environment and Climate Change Canada has created a free
subscription service to help Canadians stay current with what
the Government of Canada is doing
to protect the natural environment.
Quick facts
- Environment and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers are
responsible for administering and enforcing the pollution
prevention provisions of the Fisheries Act.
- Dry Creek and the Fording River are waters frequented by fish,
as defined under the Fisheries Act.
- Mining of coal can create large volumes of waste rock that,
when exposed to water and air, may accelerate the release of
contaminants including (but not limited to) selenium and
nitrate.
- A deleterious substance can be any substance such as oil,
chemicals, and pesticides that if added to water would degrade or
alter the water quality to the point that it could harm fish.
- The Fisheries Act allows for two types of charges —those
by summary conviction and the other by indictment. The charges
against the company were laid by indictment. Offences charged by
indictment are deemed more serious.
Associated links
- Fisheries Act (Pollution Prevention Provisions)
- Frequently Asked Questions: Fisheries Act Pollution
Prevention Provisions
- Testing for Toxicity to Fish
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SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada