Big River First Nation fined for violation of federal environmental legislation

BIG RIVER, SK, April 23, 2018 /CNW/ - Canadians value a clean and safe environment. Environment and Climate Change Canada's enforcement officers work hard to enforce the laws that protect Canada's wildlife, air, water, and natural environment.

On April 5, 2018, the Big River First Nation was sentenced $100,000 in the Provincial Court of Saskatchewan for failing to comply with an environmental protection compliance order concerning the Miami Gas Bar, a company owned and operated by the Big River First Nation. An environmental protection compliance order is an order under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, which directs various measures be taken to stop or prevent a violation of the Act or its regulations.

The penalty will be directed to the Environmental Damages Fund. 

Officers issued the environmental protection compliance order following a 2014 inspection to verify compliance with the Storage Tank Systems for Petroleum Products and Allied Petroleum Products Regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. Charges were subsequently laid, and the Big River First Nation pleaded guilty to failing to comply with measures identified in the order.

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Quick facts

• Environment and Climate Change Canada promotes compliance with federal environmental laws aimed at protecting the natural environment, and, when needed, enforcement officers take action to enforce compliance with these laws.
• The Storage Tank Systems for Petroleum Products and Allied Petroleum Products Regulations aim to reduce the risk of spills and leaks of petroleum products from storage tank systems, which can contaminate soil and groundwater. The Regulations apply to storage tank systems operated by a federal department, board, agency, or Crown corporation; storage tank systems providing services to federal works or undertakings that are a port authority, airport, or railway; and storage tank systems located on federal or Aboriginal lands.
• The Environmental Damages Fund is administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada. Created in 1995, it provides a way to direct funds received as a result of fines, court orders, and voluntary payments to projects that will benefit our natural environment.

Associated links

• Canadian Environmental Protection Act Registry
• Environmental Damages Fund

Environment and Climate Change Canada's Twitter page

SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2018/23/c1144.html