June 2, 2009

Owner of Atlantic Country Composting Sentenced to Pay a $8,000 Penalty for Violations of the Federal Fisheries Act

ANTIGONISH, NS June 2, 2009– Mr. Terrence Eugene Boyle, owner of Atlantic Country Composting,was ordered to pay a penalty of $8,000 in Nova Scotia provincial court in Antigonish today after pleading guilty to releasing a substance from his facility which was deleterious to fish into a stream that enters Tracadie Harbour. Mr. Boyle also pleaded guilty to altering fish habitat, stemming from the same release.

Environment Canada laid the charges against the company in July 2008 for violations under the federal Fisheries Act. 

The penalty includes a court ordered payment of $5,000 to the Environmental Damages Fund. Administered by Environment Canada, the Fund provides local organizations with the resources to carry out projects that aim to restore or remediate environmental damage or related environmental work, such as parkland and wildlife conservation and educational projects.

The remaining $3,000 constitutes a fine.