J.P. FARMS INC. FINED $6,500 FOR SPREADING AGRICULTURAL MATERIAL CONTRARY TO APPROVAL
WATERLOO – On August 23, 2010, J.P. Farms Inc. pleaded guilty to one violation under the Nutrient Management Act for spreading source material on frozen ground. The company also pled guilty to one violation under the Environmental Protection Act for spreading source material contrary to a condition of its Certificate of Approval.
The Court heard that the company operates a dairy farm in Waterloo. The company also collects waste, mostly liquid, from various clients throughout southern Ontario. At the time of these incidents the company held a number of Certificates of Approval. The approvals are site specific and permit the spreading on land of non-agricultural source material, subject to compliance with terms and conditions.
On February 23, 2009, responding to a complaint, ministry staff conducted an inspection. It was determined that the company had spread non-agricultural source material on frozen ground, which at the time, was not an approved site. On November 16, 2009, an organic soil conditioning site approval was issued to the company that permitted the application of non-agricultural source material on land. The approval included a number of conditions with respect to separation distances. On December 1, 2009, ministry staff conducted an inspection at this site as well and determined that non-agricultural source material had been spread less than 100 meters to an off-site residence, contrary to its approval.
The company was charged following an investigation by the ministry’s Investigations and Enforcement Branch.
The company was fined $6,500 plus a victim fine surcharge of 25%. The company was given one year to pay the fine.
A provisional Certificate of Approval issued to J.P. Farms Inc. on January 11, 2010 can be viewed at: PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL WASTE DISPOSAL SITE.
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