Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador, 30 June 2010 -- (Marketwire) -- Corner Brook Pulp and Paper pleaded guilty to violating the federal Fisheries Act during a sentencing hearing held on 11 June 2010, in Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Court in Corner Brook. Today, 30 June, the court ordered the company to pay a total penalty of CAD 50,000. 

An investigation by Environment Canada determined that on 10 October 2007, a line transporting sodium hydroxide from a tanker to the Corner Brook Pulp and Paper mill steam plant failed. As a result, approximately 7400 liters of sodium hydroxide, a substance which is deleterious to fish, was released from the tanker and entered a storm sewer that flows into Humber Arm.

Following the investigation, on 24 September 2009, the company was charged for releasing a substance that is harmful to fish, into fish-bearing waters.

The penalty includes a court ordered payment of CAD 45,000 to the Environmental Damages Fund, which is administered by Environment Canada.

Following the "polluter pays principle," the Environmental Damages Fund helps ensure that those who damage the environment take responsibility for their actions, and helps connect enforcement actions to investments in repairing the harm caused to our environment and wildlife.

The remaining CAD 5000 fine is to be paid to the court.