STEELHEAD SALVAGE & DEMOLITION INC. FINED $50,000 FOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL VIOLATION

Steelhead Salvage & Demolition Inc. pleaded guilty to one count under The Clean Air Act for burning motor vehicle tires and was fined $50,000 in Leader Provincial Court on July 19, 2012. The company was also ordered to make an $8,000 donation to SaskTip.

The charges were laid as the result of a call to the Ministry of Environment's Turn In Poachers (TIP) line in September 2010. The caller reported a fire producing a great deal of heavy, black smoke near the village of Liebenthal, south of Leader. Conservation officers investigated and found a scrap metal salvage operation taking place at the site of the fire.

Contractors of the salvage company were on site and admitted to burning a number of vehicle tires. The company was subsequently charged.

"Although the overall quality of the air in Saskatchewan is excellent, deliberate air pollution is not acceptable, as it affects the environment, atmosphere and individual health," Ministry of Environment Compliance and Field Services Executive Director Brent Webster said. "It is important to ensure that companies and individuals understand that violations of this nature are serious and will be dealt with accordingly."

Anyone who is aware of or who suspects environmental, fisheries, wildlife or forestry violations is encouraged to report them to the nearest Ministry of Environment office or to call the provinces' toll-free TIP line at 1-800-667-7561 or #5555 for SaskTel cell phone subscribers. Callers may be eligible for cash rewards through the SaskTip reward program.

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For more information, contact:

Jeanette Krayetski
Environment
Prince Albert
Phone: 306-953-2691
Email: Jeanette.Krayetski@gov.sk.ca