Huron District Contracting Limited was fined $25,000, plus a victim fine surcharge of $6,250, for spilling petroleum hydrocarbons from a waste oil tank. Huron District Contracting does marine construction and excavation near Goderich, Ontario.
According to the Ministry of the Environment, “While an employee was moving an above ground storage tank containing waste oil and other products, the equipment being used struck a valve on the tank, causing the valve to break off. The contents of the tank discharged onto the ground adjacent to a neighbouring farm property. The spill was not reported to the ministry. In response to complaints, ministry staff attended the site and observed a strong hydrocarbon diesel odour in the air as well as pooled black liquid and black staining on the ground surface of the site.”
The spill was contrary to the Environmental Protection Act, and $25,000 is the minimum fine.
