Mining company fined $85,676 for burning hazardous materials

Titan Uranium Incorporated has been convicted in La Ronge Provincial Court of one count under the Crown Resource Land Regulations and fined a total of $85,676 for burning hazardous waste materials.

The Ministry of Environment received a call in April 2009 that led conservation officers to a remote area on Sutton Lake in northern Saskatchewan to investigate a suspicious fire. Hazardous waste materials had been ignited and left to burn at a vacant exploration camp site, resulting in environmental charges being laid against the company.

Titan Uranium Incorporated and the Ministry of Environment negotiated a creative sentencing agreement focused on protecting the environment and promoting responsible resource stewardship. Under the agreement, in addition to a fine of $56,000, the company agreed to make an $11,000 donation to SaskTip and an $11,000 donation to the Western States Project, which will enable further environmental enforcement training for ministry staff. The company also agreed to provide $7,676 to the Government of Saskatchewan in restitution for costs associated with the clean up of the site.

Anyone who is aware of or who suspects environmental, wildlife or fisheries violations is encouraged to report them to the nearest Ministry of Environment office or to call the province's toll-free Turn In Poachers (TIP) line at 1-800-667-7561 or #5555 for SaskTel cell phone subscribers. Callers may be eligible for cash rewards through the SASKTIP Inc. Reward Program