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Company pleads guilty to northern Sask. fuel spill

Oct 31, 2014 | 2:35 PM

A resource company has pleaded guilty to a charge related to a diesel spill in northern Saskatchewan January 2013.
 
An investigation by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment and Environment Canada found that Claude Resources Inc. could have prevented 24,000 litres of diesel from leaking into a lake.
 
The company has been ordered to pay a fine of $172,000.
 
Investigators discovered an uncertified installer was hired to service a fuel storage tank at the Seabee Mine, 125 kilometres northeast of La Ronge.
 
According to a news release Friday, the spill had to be contained within a boomed area of Laonil Lake.
 
“It is very important that owners and operators of fuel storage tanks in our province abide by the regulations under The Environmental Management and Protection Act,” Ministry of Compliance and Enforcement Director Ken Aube said.
 
“Strong, effective enforcement of Canada’s environmental and wildlife protection laws is one of the ways the Government of Canada is acting on its commitment to protect the environment and conserve wildlife species and their habitat,” Environment Canada Chief Enforcement Officer Gord Owen said.
 
Anyone who suspects environmental, fisheries, wildlife or forestry violations is encouraged to call the local Ministry of Environment Office.

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