Ministry of the Environment News Release: $52,500 fine for constructing wells without licence

Lloyd Trodden Fined $52,500 For Constructing Wells Without A License

BRACEBRIDGE – On July 19, 2011, Lloyd Trodden pleaded guilty to seven violations under the Ontario Water Resources Act in relation to the construction of wells without a well contractor license.  In February 2009, the ministry received a complaint from a well owner that a newly constructed well was contaminated with gasoline. An inspection by ministry officials confirmed that the drinking water well was contaminated with a petroleum product. The inspection process revealed that Mr. Trodden constructed the well and that he did not possess a valid well contractor license to construct wells in Ontario.  Following an investigation, a number of additional wells were discovered that had been constructed by Mr. Trodden.  A ministry record search indicated that Mr. Trodden did not have a valid Well Contractor Licence when the wells were being constructed.

Mr. Trodden was charged following an investigation by the ministry’s Investigations and Enforcement Branch.  He was fined a total of $52,500 plus victim fine surcharges and given one year to pay the fine.

Ministry of the Environment: $48,000 fine levied for manure discharge

Bernardus Johannes Joseph Debeer Fined $48,000 For Manure Discharge

THUNDER BAY– On August 8, 2011, Bernardus Johannes Joseph DeBeer pleaded guilty to one violation under the Ontario Water Resources Act for a discharge of corn silage and manure into the Curry Municipal Drain and Reynolds Creek.

The Court heard that Mr. DeBeer is the president of a dairy and veal farm in the Municipality of South-West Oxford, Ontario.  In 2009, the ministry received a report of dead fish in Reynolds Creek.  The ministry conducted sampling on the farm and observed that run-off from the corn silage was entering catch basins. Mr. DeBeer confirmed that he had been receiving corn silage for more than a week and also confirmed that the catch basins were connected to the Curry municipal drain which flowed into Reynolds Creek.

Mr. DeBeer was charged following an investigation by the ministry’s Investigations and Enforcement Branch.  He was fined $48,000 plus a victim fine surcharge and was given six months to pay the fine.

Ministry of the Environment News Release: Abandoned Well Violation

Amethyst Well Drilling Ltd. Fined $2,500 Plus A Court Order For Restitution Of $6,619 For An Abandoned Well Violation

THUNDER BAY– On July 29, 2011, Amethyst Well Drilling Ltd. pleaded guilty to one violation under the Ontario Water Resources Act for failing to ensure that when abandoning a well, the well, including any annular space, is plugged to prevent any movement of water.

The Court heard that the company constructs potable water wells. The property owner of a residence in the Township of Neebing hired the company to construct a well on the property. In 2009, the property owner contacted the ministry with a complaint regarding the construction of his well since the water was not clear and remained cloudy in appearance.  It was discovered that in January 2008, the owner of the company had attended the site and discovered the casing was not in the bedrock.  In May 2008, he returned to try to repair the well, but the well had collapsed.  The well was not sealed from the bottom as required.  A new well was drilled nearby on the north side of the owner’s driveway.  The second well was drilled in October 2008 and in the process of developing the well, the water pumped remained very turbid, and a sink-hole appeared where the first well had been drilled.

The company was charged following an investigation by the ministry’s Investigations and Enforcement Branch.  The company was fined $2,500 plus a victim fine surcharge and was given 12 months to pay the fine. A court order was also issued ordering the company to pay restitution in the amount of $6,619 by September 30, 2011, for reasonable expenses incurred by the property owner, due to the damage to his property.

Ministry of the Environment News Release: Fine for advertising pesticides for sale without licence

Joseph Domotor Fined $2,000 For Advertising Pesticides For Sale Without A Licence

BRANTFORD – On June 28, 2011, Joseph Domotor pleaded guilty to one violation under the Pesticides Act for the placement of an advertisement offering the sale of pesticides without a vendor license.

The Court heard that Mr. Domotor operates a used car business in Brant, Ontario.  In July 2010, ministry staff placed a call to the telephone number listed in an advertisement on a website, offering the sale of pesticides. Mr. Domotor confirmed that he had pesticides for sale.  Some of the pesticides offered for sale were prohibited from being used in Ontario. In August 2010, ministry staff visited the business site and observed pesticides on site, including bottles of Wilson Total Wipeout Weed & Grass Killer concentrate – products no longer available for purchase in Ontario. 

Mr. Domotor was charged following an investigation by the ministry’s Investigations and Enforcement Branch.  He was fined $2,000 plus a victim fine surcharge and given six months to pay the fine.

Belwood Poultry Limited pleads guilty to spreading sewage sludge without MOE approval

Belwood Poultry Limited - Fined $20,000 for Illegal Sludge Waste Activities

WINDSOR – On November 17, 2010, Belwood Poultry Limited pleaded guilty to one violation under the Environmental Protection Act for depositing waste on land that was not an approved waste disposal site.

The Court heard that the company is located in Amherstburg. The company did not have ministry approval to operate equipment for the transportation or the disposal of sewage waste to any of their properties. On February 21, 2008 a Provincial Officer conducted an inspection of the company site and found that waste was being transported to a company property to be spread on fields without ministry approval. The Provincial Officer instructed the company to cease the activity.

The company was charged following an investigation by the ministry’s Investigations and Enforcement Branch.  The company was fined $20,000 plus a victim fine surcharge ($5,000) and was given one year to pay the fine.

Waterloo County dairy farm pleads guilty to spreading non-agricultural liquid waste on frozen ground

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.

Woodstock dairy farmer fined after manure spill into creek

ADRIANUS LEONARDUS MARIA VAN LITH FINED $16,000 FOR CATTLE MANURE SPILL INTO MOON CREEK

WOODSTOCK – On July 8, 2010, Adrianus Leonardus Maria Van Lith plead guilty to two violations under the Ontario Water Resources Act for a spill of cattle manure into Moon Creek and for failing to notify the ministry of the spill.

The Court heard that Mr. Van Lith is the owner of a dairy cattle farm in Woodstock. On March 16, 2008, a citizen reported a spill of dairy manure into Moon Creek, to the ministry. On March 18, 2008, a ministry officer attended the scene and took photos. The officer confirmed the spill had occurred when the earthen manure lagoon overflowed and ran down a snow covered field to Moon Creek. Samples were collected and the analysis results showed that the manure was a polluting material and may have impaired the water of Moon Creek.

Mr. Van Lith was charged following an investigation by the ministry’s Investigations and Enforcement Branch.

Mr. Van Lith was fined $16,000 plus a victim fine surcharge (an additional 25% or $4,000) and was given 12 months to pay the fine.