Canadian National Railway Company (CN) has been fined $8 million for violating the Fisheries Act twice during train derailments nine years ago.
In a statement released Monday, Environment and Climate Change Canada confirmed that the railway company had pleaded guilty to two charges in connection with two incidents that occurred on February 14 and March 7, 2015 near Gladwick and Gogama, Ontario.
“Both derailments occurred after a piece of track broke under the weight of a moving train. Canadian National Railway Company failed to exercise due diligence in maintaining the tracks,” the statement reads.
Samples taken at the site by Environment and Climate Change Canada enforcement officers revealed that between 1.06 million litres and 2.6 million litres of crude oil were released into the environment. Some of the oil reached wetlands in the area as well as Upper Kasasway Lake, the Makami River and Minisinakwa Lake.
The Ontario court on Monday ordered CN to pay an $8 million fine, which will be paid into the Government of Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund to support projects that have a positive impact on the environment.
Environment and Climate Change Canada says that following this conviction, the company’s name will be added to the Federal Registry of Environmental Offenders.
CN said in a statement Monday that it accepts responsibility for the spills. The company says it took a number of mitigation measures immediately following the spills, including efforts to contain and clean up the oil and ongoing monitoring of groundwater, local drinking water, wildlife and air quality.
CN also says it has hired local community members and Indigenous community members to help restore streams, wetlands and fish habitat. The railway says it has invested heavily in rail infrastructure in the area following the derailments.