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ARTICLE · 17 JULY 2017

$2.5 Million In Fines Issued In Relation To Large Diesel Spill

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In the latest of a string of federal environmental prosecutions leading to significant fines against corporate offenders, Canadian National Railway Company ("CN") has been fined $2.5 million...

CanadaEnvironment
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In the latest of a string of federal environmental prosecutions leading to significant fines against corporate offenders, Canadian National Railway Company ("CN") has been fined $2.5 million after pleading guilty to committing a number of infractions under the Fisheries Act and under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 ("CEPA").

The charges relate to a spill of diesel from a non-compliant oil-water separator and fuel storage system at a fueling station located in Edmonton, Alberta. The spilled diesel entered into a storm sewer and, subsequently, the North Saskatchewan River.

Among other offences, CN pled guilty and was convicted of depositing a deleterious substance into fish-bearing water (a violation under the Fisheries Act) as well as of using of a centrifugal pump to transfer oil-contaminated water and failing to remove single-walled underground steel piping (violations under CEPA).

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