Rio Tinto Fer et Titane inc. is ordered to pay fines totaling two million dollars following “discharges of harmful substances” into waterways that contravene federal regulations.
Posted at 12:26 p.m.
Canada’s Department of Environment and Climate Change opened an initial investigation in the fall of 2023 after being informed of releases of “harmful substances” from the mine located at Lake Tio, operated by the mining giant. Located north of Havre-Saint-Pierre, on the North Shore, it is based on a large deposit of ilmenite.
The investigation thus revealed nickel excesses in the effluent at one of the site’s discharge points. “These exceedances occurred due to the accidental cutting of electrical cables which interrupted the pumping and treatment system for this effluent,” notes the ministry in a communication this Tuesday.
-However, in the summer of the same year, agents of the federal ministry again noted anomalies. This time these were linked to the PH content of an effluent. And in the fall, the company “failed to take a sample without delay during an unauthorized release of a harmful substance”, again contravening the framework in force.
Like other convictions of this type, the name of the offending company is added to the register of environmental offenders which contains the convictions handed down and information relating to the offenses.
What’s more, the fines, which total two million dollars, will be paid into the Government of Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund. The latter aims to support projects that have a positive impact on natural environments in Canada.
