AV Terrace Bay Pleads Guilty To Environmental Protection Act Violations
Terrace Bay Mill. Photo OntarioNewsNorth.com
SCHREIBER, ON – Pulp mill owner AV Terrace Bay Inc. pleaded guilty to seven offences and was fined $250,000 for failing to ensure that effluent discharge and testing limits were maintained, contrary to the Environmental Protection Act (EPA).
AV Terrace Bay Inc. owns and operates a pulp mill located on Mill Road in the Township of Terrace Bay, District of Thunder Bay.
The company converts wood into pulp using a kraft pulping process, which generates industrial effluent that undergoes primary and secondary treatment prior to discharge to Lake Superior via Blackbird Creek. This process is classified as an industrial sewage works, which is authorized by an ECA and is monitored by the ministry.
The mill’s effluent discharges are subject to, amongst others requirements, regulatory effluent quality requirements under the EPA.
On several occasions between July 1 and December 30, 2013, the mill’s effluent did not meet the regulatory quality requirements, which resulted in the matter being referred to the ministry’s Investigations and Enforcement Branch for investigation.
On October 26, 2015, AV Terrace Bay Inc. pleaded guilty to seven offences, was fined $250,000 plus a victim fine surcharge of $62,500 and was given six months to pay the fine.
