Campbell River, British Columbia 

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC ) reports that Nyrstar Myra Falls pleaded guilty, in B.C. Provincial Court on October 7, 2016, to two counts under the Fisheries Act and one under the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations. As a result, they have been ordered to pay $185,000 of which $184,000 will be directed to the Environmental Damages Fund (EDF).

The EDF is administered by ECCC to direct funds received as a result of fines, court orders, and voluntary payments to projects that will benefit the natural environment.

On September 5, 2014, Nyrstar Myra Falls Mine deposited untreated acidic wash water into Myra Creek. Testing of samples collected by ECCC enforcement officers confirmed that the wash water was deleterious (harmful) to fish. Depositing or permitting the deposit of a deleterious substance into water frequented by fish is a violation of the Fisheries Act.

As a result of the conviction, Nyrstar Myra Falls will be added to the Environmental Offenders Registry. The registry was created in 2009. It contains the names of corporations convicted of offences under certain federal environmental laws.

http://ec.gc.ca/alef-ewe/default.asp?lang=En&n=A718F169-1

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Manning Environmental Law is a Canadian law firm based in Toronto, Ontario. Our practice is focussed on environmental law, energy law and aboriginal law. 

Paul Manning is a certified specialist in environmental law. He has been named as one of the World’s Leading Environmental Lawyers by Who’s Who Legal: 2016.

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