Staff
New Gold Inc. has been fined $150,000, plus a $37,500 victim fine surcharge, after being convicted last Thursday of failing to comply with conditions of an Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) issued by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change.
The ministry reported the offences occurred during the period beginning on or about July 26, 2016 and ending on or about Aug. 2, 2016 during construction of the gold mine referred to as the Rainy River Project.
In May, 2015, the ministry issued an ECA for the construction of a sewage works at the project site.
The ECA stipulates acceptable discharge testing levels for daily concentration of un-ionized ammonia from in-pit sumps.
A condition of the ECA also stipulates that non-compliance of the maximum daily limit is deemed to occur when any single grab sample analyzed exceeds the corresponding prescribed daily concentration limit.
The ECA also requires that any exceedances be reported to the ministry orally as soon as reasonably possible, and in writing within seven days.
On July 22, 2016, New Gold staff collected pre-discharge samples from In-Pit Sump 3.
On July 26, an independent lab provided a draft analysis indicating the concentration of un-ionized ammonia exceeded the daily maximum discharge limit.
However, on July 26, New Gold discharged the sump continuously until July 29, releasing roughly 19 million litres of effluent.
The exceedance was confirmed by a lab report on July 29.
As well, on July 20, 2016, New Gold took a sample of discharge from In-Pit Sump 4.
On July 22, an independent lab provided a draft analysis indicating the concentration of un-ionized ammonia exceeded the daily maximum discharge limit.
On July 26, New Gold received the lab’s final report confirming the exceedance, but failed to orally notify the ministry until eight days later on Aug. 3.
The incidents were referred to the ministry’s Investigations and Enforcement branch, resulting in charges laid and eventually two convictions.
