Bruce Power Limited Partnership, operator of the Bruce Nuclear Power Plant, has pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA, 1999). It received penalties of $100,000 for failure to conduct an annual leak test of all the components of a refrigeration system, contrary to the Federal Halocarbon Regulations, 2003 and paragraph 272(1)(a) of CEPA, 1999.Bruce Power’ penalty of $100,000 includes: a fine of $40,000 for one count under CEPA, 1999, to be directed to the Environmental Damages Fund; a court order for an additional $20,000 awarded directly to the Environmental Damages Fund; a court order to pay $20,000 to the Saugeen Valley Conservation Foundation, $15,000 to sauGREEN for the Environment, and $5,000 to the Penetangore Watershed Group.
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 the natural environment.