Company sentenced for polluting Port Alice waters

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.