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Edmonton Dry Cleaner Required to Pay $10,000 For Environmental Offences

EDMONTON, Alta. -- July 26, 2010 -- Ali-Khair-Eldin, owner of a local dry cleaning company operating under the name Goody Dry-Cleaners (1996) Ltd. pleaded guilty in Alberta Provincial Court on June 1, 2010, to one count under the Tetrachloroethylene (Use in Dry Cleaning and Reporting Requirements) Regulations of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.

Tetrachloroethylene, also known as perchloroethylene, and commonly called PERC, is a dry-cleaning solvent and is designated as a toxic substance under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. The company was fined $10,000 for not storing PERC waste in closed containersand for not having tetrachloroethylene -impermeable floor drain plugs readily available in the event of a spill.

The Environmental Damages Fund will receive $9,500 of the fine. The Environmental Damages Fund is administered by Environment Canada was created in 1995 to provide the courts and companies with an option to direct monetary penalties and settlements to investments in the repair of the actual harm done to the environment. It helps ensure polluters take responsibility for their actions and enforces the “polluter pays” principle.

The investigation that led to the conviction was launched by Environment Canada’s Enforcement Branch in May 2009, as a result of a routine inspection.

Further information on the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 and the Environmental Damages Fund may be found at www.ec.gc.ca/cepaRegistryand www.ec.gc.ca/edf-fde.