By Angela Brown

Case against Husky Energy held over until June

Mar 29, 2018 | 10:54 AM

The case against Husky Energy related to the July, 2016 spill that released 225,000 litres of oil into the North Saskatchewan River, was held over today until June 21.

A lawyer for Husky appeared in provincial court in Lloydminster, Sask., Thursday on charges related to the oil spill. The defence asked for the case to be put over so they could have more time to read through thousands of pages of information related to the charges. The oil spill impacted water sources for a number of communities including North Battleford, Prince Albert and Melfort.

Husky is facing one charge alleging it did “unlawfully permit the discharge of a substance that caused an adverse environmental effect,” contravening the Environmental Management and Protection Act (EMPA), according to the Saskatchewan Government.

The maximum fine for this EMPA charge is $1 million.

Husky is also facing several charges under the Federal Fisheries Act and one charge under the Federal Migratory Birds Convention Act related to the deposit of “deleterious substances” into water frequented by fish and birds. Both the provincial and federal charges were announced on March 26. 

Court proceedings

Drugs and weapons bust in Stanley Mission, results in two year sentence

18h ago

health care

La Loche recipient of new portable blood analyzer, printer kit

19h ago

Crime

Dangerous driving report at Red Wing, leads to arrest of man with gun

23h ago

The federal department said the charges are the result of a 19-month joint federal-provincial investigation.

The City of North Battleford had to supplement its water system from the Town of Battleford following the Husky Energy oil spill in July, 2016. The city accessed water from the town via a 3.5-kilometre pipeline following the Husky spill because surface-water from the North Saskatchewan River couldn’t be used for the F.E. Holliday Water Treatment Plant. The city used the water pipeline from August, 2016 until September, 2017.

The Husky oil spill occurred in the summer of 2016. A total of 225,000 litres of oil spilled from a crack in a section of pipe near Maidstone, about 160 metres from the banks of the North Saskatchewan River in July, 2016. While about 60 per cent of the spill was contained on land, the remainder entered the river. In 2016, Husky was able to recover about 210,000 litres, leaving about 15,000 litres left to locate.

Husky completed a cleanup in the affected areas during the spring and summer in 2017 ensuring there were no traces remaining from the blended crude oil spill.  

All the allegations against Husky have not been proven in court. 

More to come.

As the matter is before the courts, commenting is closed.

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW