http://www.edmontonsun.com/2015/03/13/calgary-oil-company-fined-for-releasing-oil-into-northern-alberta-creek
Calgary oil company fined for releasing oil into northern Alberta creek
By Tony Blais, Edmonton Sun
First posted: Friday, March 13, 2015 04:25 PM MDT
A Calgary oil and gas company was hit with a $125,000 penalty Friday
after admitting in an Edmonton courtroom to releasing oil into a
northern Alberta creek.
Canadian Natural Resources Limited was ordered to pay a $12,000 fine and
to donate $113,000 to Environment Canada's Environmental Damages Fund
after pleading guilty to a charge under the Fisheries Act of depositing
a deleterious substance in water frequented by fish.
Provincial Court Judge Laura Stevens noted the May 23, 2010, light crude
oil spill into Sneddon Creek from an CNRL oil production site near
Spirit River was the result of a "mistake" by a company contract
employee where valves that should have been closed were left open.
"This is a very unfortunate incident," said Stevens, describing it as a
case of "negligence," rather than an intentional act. "This speaks to
inadequate supervision and inadequate policies."
The judge noted that CNRL's response to the spill was "immediate and
vigorous" and the company has since increased supervision and put
policies and safeguards in place so that a similar spill does not happen.
According to agreed facts, two CNRL operators had been doing a procedure
that involved shutting down oil production from four oil wells so that
pressure valves could be removed and tested. Once the procedure was done
and prior to restarting the production, one of the operators opened four
drain valves to purge oxygen. However, he failed to then close the valves.
Company officials estimated six cubic metres of oil was released of
which .75 cubic metres entered the creek.
The oil is lethal to fish at a concentration of 1.4 per cent, however no
fish deaths were observed at the time.
Company lawyer Ron Kruhlak told court that CNRL was "thankful" that the
release did not result in any harm.
Spirit River is about 523 km northwest of Edmonton.
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