A rural municipality that expanded its sewage lagoon and deliberately breached a sewage line in the process has been fined $77,000 in Saskatchewan provincial court.
The RM of Britannia, near Lloydminster, also has to send a letter to all taxpayers about the fine after being found guilty May 16 of two counts under the Environmental Management and Protection Act and the Water Regulations.
The charges were laid after environment ministry officials inspected a construction site at the hamlet of Greenstreet in October 2009.
Gary Provencher, from the ministry’s compliance division in Prince Albert, said the municipality had been warned in 2008 about noncompliance with regard to its water works.
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During hunting season the following year, conservation officers saw work being done on the sewage lagoon at Greenstreet. They reported it to other ministry officials who discovered there was no permit.
The investigation also found the RM had opened up a sewage line as part of the work.
“It could have impacted a large area,” Provencher said.
Leaking sewage could have entered a nearby lake and the water treatment facility.
Although fines under EMPA can be as high as $1 million, typically most are in the range of $20,000 to $30,000, he said. In this case, the RM was fined $70,000 for altering the lagoon without a permit and $7,000 for the sewage line breach.
Provencher said the fines reflect the environmental damage that could have occurred.
“This was probably the highest one to date related to either water or sewage works,” he said.
Municipalities do have some leeway to fix accidental or emergency sewer line breaks. Work on the lagoon has continued but it still does not meet the permitted conditions.
Provencher said that people who suspect environmental violations should call the province’s toll-free Turn in Poachers, or TIP, line at 800-667-7561 or #5555 on SaskTel cell-phones.
That number can be used to report wildlife or fisheries violations as well.
