Most of the $150,000 fine levied against a Red Deer grain processor will be pumped into the city’s storm sewer monitoring project.
Permolex Ltd., which processes grain into ethanol, flour and other products, was fined in Red Deer provincial court on Wednesday on two counts of failing to apply with conditions of its approval under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act.
Company representatives pleaded guilty to releasing waste water into the city’s storm sewer system in 2007 and to failing to install air pollution control equipment that was required under its operating permit.
A creative sentence directs $100,000 to be paid to the City of Red Deer, which will use the money to fund a system that monitors storm water entering the Red Deer River and its tributaries, analyzes the river’s capacity to handle pollutants and develops methods to reduce impacts.
The balance of $50,000 will be paid as a fine within the province’s justice system.
The City of Red Deer was not directly involved in the investigation, which was performed by Alberta government officials, environmental services manager Tom Warder said on Thursday.
However, his department will benefit directly, which Warder sees as an appropriate remedy for the illegal discharge.
The additional money provided through the creative sentence will make a significant difference in the city’s efforts to investigate pollutants entering the river and finding ways to deal with them, said Warder.
The city will tender the monitoring project next week.