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ARTICLE · 24 JANUARY 2019

Canada's Largest Environmental Penalty

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On November 5, 2018 Irving Pulp & Paper ("Irving") was ordered to pay a penalty in the amount of $3.5 million for three offences under the Federal Fisheries Act.

CanadaEnvironment
Paula Lombardi
Paula Lombardi
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On November 5, 2018 Irving Pulp & Paper ("Irving") was ordered to pay a penalty in the amount of $3.5 million for three offences under the Federal Fisheries Act. The fine of $ 3.5 million represents one of the largest fines issued by the federal government relating to an environmental offence.

The fine was issued as a result of Irving releasing untreated effluent into the Saint John River for over the course of approximately 2 years between June 2014 and August 2016. No fish were killed or harmed by the discharge. Beginning in or around June 2014 up to August 2016, improperly treated and deleterious effluent was released from one of Irving's three outfall structures. The outfall structures release directly into the Saint John River. The discharges were reported by Irving to Environment and Climate Change Canada as required by the Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations.

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