Company fined for manure discharge into municipal drain

From the Ministry of the Environment:

Shedden Company Fined $25,000 for Manure Discharge

St. Thomas - A Shedden company was fined $25,000 for discharging pig manure into the Kerstan Municipal Drain causing impairment to the quality of water.

"Polluters should be aware that the ministry's Investigations and Enforcement Branch will vigorously pursue charges when our environmental laws are broken," Environment Minister Jim Bradley.

G.H. Pennings Farms Inc. owns and operates a pig farm located in Southwold Township. The Ministry of Natural Resources received a call from a local resident regarding manure impacting a creek. The tip was relayed to the Ministry of the Environment and ministry inspectors attended the site. During the inspection, staff traced the source of the manure back to a holding lagoon located on the farm. The lab results of the water samples taken at the site showed impairment to water quality.

The company was fined $25,000 plus a victim fine surcharge of $6,250 and was given six months to pay the fine.

Failure to comply with Nutrient Management Act results in fines

Cor Pannekoek Construction Ltd. And Cornelis Martinus Pannekoek Fined $43,500 For Liquid Manure Spill.

KITCHNER – On March 31, 2011, Cor Pannekoek Construction Ltd. pleaded guilty to one violation under the Ontario Water Resources Act and Cornelis Martinus Pannekoek pleaded guilty to one violation under the Nutrient Management Act for the improper construction of a liquid manure tank and subsequent spill from the tank which impacted a creek.

The Court heard that Mr. Pannekoek is the director of the company.  The company was hired to help with an expansion of Hogendoorn Dairy in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo.  This expansion included the construction of a new liquid manure tank and transfer lines between an existing liquid manure tank and a new liquid manure collection system.  The liquid nutrient transfer system was installed without ensuring a flexible watertight gasket or membrane between the wall of the storage tank to serve as an anti-seepage collar as required by Nutrient Management Act.  On February 22, 2009, during the first transfer and filling of the new liquid manure tank, approximately one million litres of liquid manure leaked from a connection at the new tank, ultimately entering an unnamed tributary of Bamberg Creek resulting in a significant fish kill.

Following the laying of charges on June 24, 2010 by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment's Investigations and Enforcement Branch, the company was convicted and fined $40,000 and Mr. Pannekoek was convicted and fined $3,500.  The fines totaled $43,500 plus victim fine surcharges (an additional 25%).  The company was given 12 months to pay the fines.