Gold-mining firm fined $90K for polluting

Saskatoon-based mining company Claude Resources has been ordered to pay $90,000 after being found guilty of polluting the water in Saskatchewan.

In La Ronge provincial court on Monday, the company pleaded guilty to three offences under the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations of the Fisheries Act, the federal Environment Department said.

The offences included depositing an "acutely lethal effluent," polluting water where fish are living and failing to properly report the problems.

On Tuesday, a manager in the department told CBC News the effluent consisted of various solids, such as sand and soil, some of which contained nitrates.

"There were several occurrences that led us to bringing this matter before the courts," Kent Siegele, the operations manager of the environmental enforcement directorate for Environment Canada in Saskatchewan, told CBC News.

"Environment Canada and Saskatchewan Environment have been working with Claude Resources for quite some time now to bring them into compliance and just haven't been able to do so. And things have escalated to the point where we felt there was some court action needed."

The affected body of water was Laonil Lake, Siegele said.

Claude Resources operates the Seabee gold mine in northeastern Saskatchewan.

The department said a search warrant was executed at the mine on June 3, 2009. Charges were laid after an investigation by the Environment Department's enforcement officers.

After the company pleaded guilty, it was assessed penalties totalling $90,000.

Of that, $40,000 is a fine and $50,000 will be given to the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, the department said.

Siegele said the effluent did not kill any fish, but can be a problem if left unchecked.

"Total suspended solids can plug up the gills of aquatic water species," Siegele said. "They also cover up habitat and/or eggs. Depending on the time of year ... the eggs can be covered with the sediment and actually smothered."