The work of the Conservation Officer Service's Major Investigations Unit has led to the conviction of Neucel Specialty Cellulose Ltd. for illegally discharging waste from their Port Alice pulp mill operation. Neucel Specialty Cellulose Ltd. has been ordered to pay $1,000 in fines to the Province and $174,000 to the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation. In 2011, Neucel exceeded authorized levels of discharge into Neroutsos Inlet on three separate occasions. The Major Investigations Unit of the Conservation Officer Service, supported by Environment Canada, conducted a joint investigation and forwarded recommended charges to Crown counsel. B.C.'s Conservation Officer Service enforces over 33 pieces of provincial and federal legislation to ensure compliance with environmental laws and regulations. Specializing in commercial, environmental and industrial investigations, the COS has full authority to independently handle these cases and forward recommendations for charges directly to provincial Crown counsel. - Contributed by the Ministry of Environment.
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