PF Résolu Canada Inc., a North American company in the forest products industry, was recently fined $100,000 after pleading guilty to violating subsection 36(3) of the Canadian Fisheries Act.
The investigation, led by Environment and Climate Change Canada, revealed that PF Résolu Canada Inc. had committed a violation to the Act, namely the deposit of a deleterious substance in waters frequented by fish. The amount of the fine will be directed to the Environmental Damages Fund.
The deposit of a deleterious substance was into Comeau Creek situated in North Shore of Baie Comeau. PF Résolu Canada Inc.’s Baie Comeau newsprint mill is located on the creek.
PF Résolu Canada Inc., also known as Resolute Forest Products (RFP), is a global leader in the forest products industry with a diverse range of products, including market pulp, tissue, wood products, newsprint and specialty papers, which are marketed in over 70 countries.
The company owns or operates some 40 manufacturing facilities, as well as power generation assets, in the United States and Canada.
Resolute has third-party certified 100% of its managed woodlands to internationally recognized sustainable forest management standards. Resolute has received regional, North American and global recognition for its leadership in corporate social responsibility and sustainable development, as well as for its business practices.
On the environmental management section of the company website, RFP states that in 2016, t 29 environmental incidents were recorded across the company. The company states that it will continue to work toward a long-term goal of zero incidents. The 2017 target the company set for itself is 38 incidents or less.
In its financial statements, the company is required to record accidental releases of hazardous substances significant enough to risk damage to human and environmental health, or that have potential liability and reputational consequences. Between 2012 and 2016, Resolute recorded no such incidents. The company is also required to disclose in our published financial statements any fines of material significance for non-compliance with environmental laws and regulations, none of which were reported between 2012 and 2016.
The Baie-Comeau facility produces newsprint at a capacity of 319,000 tonnes per year. There are 216 employees at the facility.
