Released on April 27, 2015
A Saskatchewan company was recently fined for unlawfully establishing a waste disposal ground without a permit. The charge stemmed from a call to a Ministry of Environment office in July of 2013.Conservation officers investigated and found that a rock crushing crew employed by the company had buried all of their garbage, which included used oil, oil filters, batteries, metal cones and various other items.
The garbage pit was located within 700 metres of a fish-bearing creek and was found approximately 25 kilometres north of Leoville. The illegal dumping of these types of materials can pose serious environmental risks by contaminating water supplies, polluting the soil and causing potential health issues for humans and wildlife.
“Although the overall quality of our environment in Saskatchewan is excellent, deliberately polluting it with garbage can affect both our natural resources and human health,” Ministry of Environment Compliance and Field Services Executive Director Kevin Callele said. “Companies and individuals need to understand that violations of this nature are serious and will be dealt with accordingly.”
The charge against Potzus Paving and Road Maintenance Ltd. falls under The Municipal Refuse Management Regulations of The Environmental Management and Protection Act. The company incurred a $18,900 fine. Besides the fine, the company was ordered to pay approximately $65,000 to clean up the garbage and properly dispose of it.
If you suspect environmental, wildlife, fisheries or forestry violations, please call your local Ministry of Environment office, Saskatchewan’s toll-free Turn In Poachers (TIP) line at 1-800-667-7561 or #5555 for SaskTel cell phone subscribers, or report a violation online at www.saskatchewan.ca/conservation. Callers may be eligible for cash rewards from the SaskTip Reward Program.
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For more information, contact:
Jamie Gibson
Environment
Regina
Phone: 306-798-3900
Email: jamie.gibson@gov.sk.ca