City of Red Deer fined $50,000 for release of PCB contaminated oil

City of Red Deer Fined $50,000 for Release of PCB Contaminated Oil

RED DEER, Alta. - January 14, 2013 - The City of Red Deer was ordered to pay $50,000 to the Environmental Damages Fund (EDF) in Alberta Provincial Court after pleading guilty to one count under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA, 1999). This relates to the release of approximately 160 litres of Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contaminated oil from a metal drum located at a City of Red Deer electrical substation. The release was discovered in October of 2010.

In addition to the $50,000 fine, the City of Red Deer was ordered to create policies to ensure proper management of PCBs, create and implement a training program for their employees who handle PCBs, implement internal auditing to prevent future incidents, and publish an article in a local newspaper regarding the incident.

The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, aims to prevent pollution, and protect the environment and human health by preventing and managing risks posed by toxic and other harmful substances.

The Environmental Damages Fund is administered by Environment Canada. It 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 natural environment.

To learn more about the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, and the Environmental Damages Fund, visit these websites: http://www.ec.gc.ca/lcpe-cepa/ and http://www.ec.gc.ca/edf-fde/.

For more information, please contact:

Media Relations
Environment Canada
819-934-8008