Celgar Faces Hefty Fines After Pollution Conviction

February 17, 2012

Zellstoff-Celgar could face some hefty fines after being convicted in a pollution case.

Speaking after the Castlegar mill was found guilty on three charges related to a toxic spill in 2008, crown prosecutor Todd Gerhart says the maximum fines are up to $1 million a day although he won't decide on what punishment he's looking for until he's studied the reasons for judgement in detail. The case was a highly technical one.

On Thursday Judge Lisa Mronzinski found Celgar guilty of depositing a substance into the Columbia River that was lethal to trout after a spill of so-called Weak Black Liquor in late November 2008. She also found the mill guilty on two counts related to permitted levels of effluent.

The offences occured at varying times over a six-day period.

A date is expected to be fixed in Nelson court Monday to hear submissions in relation to what penalties Celgar should incur.