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ARTICLE · 07 MARCH 2012

Construction Accident Spill

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Balterre Contracting Limited was fined $200,000 for rupturing a natural gas pipeline during road construction, spilling natural gas into the environment, causing an adverse effect.

CanadaEnvironment
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Balterre Contracting Limited was fined $200,000 for rupturing a natural gas pipeline during road construction, spilling natural gas into the environment, causing an adverse effect.

The company was subcontracted to work on road construction in Peterborough. In 2010, the company was excavating near a high-pressure natural gas pipeline when a company employee struck it, tearing a hole in the top of the pipeline. An immediate evacuation followed, and the local airport was warned that there should be no flights over the affected area. Local businesses, as well as the company that owned the pipeline, suffered monetary losses due to the rupture and evacuation.

The company was fined $200,000 plus the 25% victim fine surcharge and given six months to pay the fine.

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