Environment and Climate Change Canada enforces the laws that protect the air, water, and natural environment in Canada, and it takes pollution incidents and threats to the environment very seriously.
On July 10, 2024, Environment and Climate Change Canada Enforcement laid five charges against Teck Coal Limited for contraventions of subsection 36(3) of the Fisheries Act. Under subsection 36(3) of the Fisheries Act, it is prohibited to deposit or to permit the deposit of a deleterious (harmful) substance into water frequented by fish, or in any place where the deleterious substance may enter any such water.
The charges stem from an investigation opened by Environment and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers on March 7, 2023. The investigation was conducted into alleged deleterious (harmful) deposits into Dry Creek on Teck Coal Limited’s Line Creek Operations Mine in British Columbia, and the adjacent Fording River.
All charges are currently before the Court, and they have not yet been proven. Under Canadian law, those charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Therefore, Environment and Climate Change Canada will not be commenting further at this time.
Environment and Climate Change Canada has created a free subscription service to help Canadians stay current with what the Government of Canada is doing to protect the natural environment.
Mining of coal can create large volumes of waste rock that, when exposed to water and air, may accelerate the release of contaminants including (but not limited to) selenium and nitrate.
A deleterious substance can be any substance such as oil, chemicals, and pesticides that if added to water would degrade or alter the water quality to the point that it could harm fish.
For further information, visit: Fisheries Act (Pollution Prevention Provisions)
