Pulp Company Penalized $1M for Discharging Toxic Wastewater into Alberta River

A pulp mill operator in northwestern Alberta has been fined $1 million for discharging nearly 31 million litres of toxic wastewater into the Peace River.

Environment and Climate Change Canada reported that the effluent, released in April 2021, was deemed “acutely lethal” to fish.

Mercer Peace River Pulp Ltd. pleaded guilty last month to violating a section of the Fisheries Act, leading to the company being added to the Environmental Offenders Registry.

According to the federal government, the mill was shut down for maintenance, during which wastewater was diverted to a spill pond meant for storage until it could be treated and safely released into the river. However, an investigation revealed that the pond lacked sufficient capacity for the additional effluent—a problem Mercer has since addressed.

The fine will be directed to Ottawa’s Environmental Damages Fund.