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A Calgary oil and gas company has been fined $125,000 in connection to an oil leak that killed about 300 birds.
On Sept. 8, 2008, more than 14,000 litres of crude oil from a well was discharged onto 1,200 square metres of land near Ralston, Alta., east of Medicine Hat.
Harvest Operations Corp. pleaded guilty Thursday to depositing a substance harmful to migratory birds in waters or an area frequented by birds.
The spill site was in the southwest corner of Canadian Forces Base Suffield, about 50 kilometres from the CFB Suffield National Wildlife Area.
About 300 migratory birds, songbirds and raptors died after landing in the oil.
An investigation by Environment Canada and Alberta Sustainable Resources Development found the spill was due to an improperly sealed well bore and a plug failure.
The well had suspended operations in December 2005.
Suspended wells are plugged but not formally abandoned and dismantled, giving the owner the option to resume production. There are thousands of such wells throughout Alberta and problems with them are rare, an Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board spokesman said at the time of the leak.
No waterways were affected, according to an Environment Canada news release.
The fine will be paid to the federal Environmental Damages Fund, which directs “polluter pays” money to projects that will benefit the environment.
CBC News
