R. v. Corner Brook Pulp & Paper Limited, 2010 CanLII 33018 (NL PC)

This case was heard in the Provincial Court of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Limited pleaded guilty to having deposited a deleterious substance in waters frequented by fish, contrary to section 36(3) of the federal Fisheries Act. As a result of using aluminum coupling on a hose that was being used to carry sodium hydroxide, the sodium hydroxide corroded the coupling and roughly 7400 litres of the chemical solution were released into the environment. The Court found that company employees had not received proper training regarding the corrosive nature of sodium hydroxide. As the Court determined the size of the fine that ought to be imposed, it emphasized the need to create strong deterrents against environmental harms.

View the Decision on CanLII: https://www.canlii.org/en/nl/nlpc/doc/2010/2010canlii33018/2010canlii33018.html

Disclaimer:
Case briefs in our Resource Library are drafted by law students who work or volunteer with East Coast Environmental Law, and East Coast Environmental Law does not guarantee their fullness or accuracy. Library users should not rely on case briefs as comprehensive accounts of the issues, facts, reasoning, or outcomes at stake in any given case. 

If you require more detailed information about a court decision or legal issue, please consider using our Environmental Law Inquiry Service to request information from our staff.