Prosecution for Providing Misleading Information Leads To $20,000 Fine And Probation For St. Thomas Man

OCTOBER 15, 2009

ST. THOMAS, Ontario – An environmental enforcement investigation initiated by Environment Canada, in co-operation with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and U.S. federal and state government departments, ended yesterday with a guilty plea entered by Ronald Kowalski of St. Thomas, Ontario, in the Ontario Court of Justice. Mr. Kowalski pleaded guiltyto one violation of providing a person with false or misleading informationunder the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.

Mr. Kowalski was fined $20,000, with the fine directed to the Environmental Damages Fund, and he was placed on one year’s probation. In addition, Mr. Kowalski was sentenced to 100 hours of community service, to be performed within 10 months.

This joint investigation, which was carried out in co-operation with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, the U.S. Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the U.S. Department of Justice and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Police, uncovered evidence that Mr. Kowalski provided false and misleading information, results or samples to a person.