Trucking company fined for failure to clean up diesel spill due to frost

November 8, 2010

DAY & ROSS INC. FINED $10,000 FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH A PROVINCIAL OFFICER ORDER

KENORA, ON – On October 14, 2010, Day & Ross Inc. pleaded guilty to one violation under the Environmental Protection Act for failing to remove spilled diesel fuel from an accident site.

The Court heard that on April 1, 2009, a tractor-trailer driven by an independent operator on behalf of the company left the roadway of Highway #17 in poor road conditions due to weather. The accident occurred approximately 30 kilometers east of Kenora. As a result, the fuel tanks ruptured and an estimated 170 litres of diesel fuel escaped into the south ditch adjacent to the highway. On April 2, 2009, the Ministry of Transportation reported the accident to the Ministry of the Environment, who attended the site. On April 3, 2009, ministry staff returned to the accident site with an environmental consulting firm retained by the company to assess and remediate the site. On April 8, 2009, a Provincial Officer Order was issued to the company ordering the it to remove the spilled diesel fuel from the accident site, handle the recovered fuel and other waste in accordance with provincial legislation and restore the site to its original condition by April 21, 2009. Due to environmental conditions, namely the presence of frost, the company did not comply with the order to clean up the spill until approximately 40 days after the date required by the order.

The company was fined following an investigation by the ministry’s Investigations and Enforcement Branch.

The company was fined $10,000 plus a victim fine surcharge and was given 90 days to pay the fine.

MOE fines another vehicle owner for spill resulting from a highway accident

REMA TRUCKS INC. FINED $2,000 FOR FAILING TO REPORT A SPILL

THUNDER BAY — On April 16, 2010, Rema Trucks Inc. pleaded guilty to one violation under the Environmental Protection Act for failing to notify authorities of a diesel fuel spill.

The company operates a truck rental business in Regina, Saskatchewan. On March 11, 2009, the company owned one of nine trucks that collided in a snow storm on Highway 17 in Soper Township. Fluids from five of the trucks including diesel fuel, motor oil and antifreeze spilled onto the road, shoulders and ditches of the highway.

The company was charged following an investigation by the ministry’s Investigations and Enforcement Branch. The company was fined $2,000 and was given six months to pay.

Involved in a highway accident? You still need to report spills to the MOE.

From the Ontario Ministry of the Environment:

FEDEX GROUND PACKAGE SYSTEM, LTD. AND GORDON TRAILER SALES & RENTALS LIMITED FINED $2,000 EACH FOR FAILING TO REPORT SPILLS

THUNDER BAY — On March 5, 2010, Fedex Ground Package System, Ltd. and Gordon Trailer Sales & Rentals Limited pleaded guilty to failing to forthwith report their spills of diesel fuel to the ministry’s Spills Action Centre.

On March 11, 2009, the above corporations owned two of nine trucks that collided in a snowstorm on Highway 17 in Soper Township in the District of Thunder Bay. Fluids from five of the trucks including fuel, motor oil and antifreeze spilled onto the road, shoulders and ditches of Highway 17. Both companies had reportable spills of diesel fuel over 100 litres, however, neither reported their spills to the ministry within 24 hours.

The companies were charged following an investigation by the ministry’s Investigations and Enforcement Branch.

Both companies were fined $2,000 each, plus victim fine surcharges for failing to report their spills, and were given 60 days to pay.

Previously, Dave Toews, another trucking company involved in the collision, was also convicted for an environmental violation and fined $400 on January 22, 2010. The matter for Rema Trucks Inc., a further trucking company involved in the accident, is still before the courts. Remediation of the spilled materials was completed promptly and successfully.