Quebec Adds Further Parties To Lac-Mégantic Cleanup Order

As we previously reported, the Quebec government last month issued an omnibus cleanup order respecting the Lac-Mégantic disaster, including orders of questionable validity against shareholders of parties which may bear primary responsibility.

Folliwng the bankruptcy filing of the railroad operator, the Quebec government yesterday announced that it was expanding the scope of its cleanup order.  In addition to naming an affiliate of the owner of the spilled petroleum, the amended order names the Canadian Pacific Railway as a party responsible for the cleanup. 

The order states that the CPR was the party primarily contracted to transport the spilled oil from North Dakota to New Brunswick, had arranged transportation on the railroad on whose line the spill took place, and was therefore in custody and control of the oil at the time of the derailment.