NORTHERN ONTARIO - GOLDCORP has been fined $225,000 after pleading guilty to three counts under the Ontario Water Resources Act (OWRA), reports the Ontario Ministry of the Environment.
The court heard that in the spring of 2003, the company added chemical treatment at the Red Lake mine tailings areas and undertook additional construction at the tailing areas for both the Red Lake and Wilanour mine sites without amending its Certificates of Approval. During September 2004, the company also discharged approximately 110,000 m of tailings effluent to Bruce Channel of Red Lake without submitting a start-up report to the ministry as required by its Certificate of Approval. The matter was referred to MOE's Investigations and Enforcement Branch and charges were laid.
On Oct. 31, 2005, Goldcorp pleaded guilty to three charges under the OWRA. Two of the charges relate to altering a tailings pond, for both the Red Lake and Wilanour mines, and the company was fined $75,000 on both charges. By using or operating a tailings pond other than in accordance with its Certificate of Approval, the company was fined an additional $150,000 for a total of $225,000. Fines are exclusive of the victim fine surcharges.
The court also issued a Section 112 Order under the OWRA requiring the company, among other things, to have its new treatment plant at Red Lake constructed and fully functional prior to the company expanding its production and to make improvements to its treatment plant at the Wilanour mine site by May 1, 2006.
To read more, visit www.ene.gov.on.ca.
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