A black liquor spill from Watson Island back in 2011 has proven costly for the City of Prince Rupert.
The city has been fined $50,000 after pleading guilty on June 5 to one count of the release of deleterious substance into fish-bearing waters. Back on Jan. 21, 2011, weak black liquor spilled into Porpoise Harbour and was reported to Environment Canada. Samples of the spill were collected and found to be toxic to Rainbow Trout, resulting in charges being laid on Dec. 12, 2013.
Of the $50,000, $5,000 is a fine under the Fisheries Act while $45,000 will be put toward the removal of priority chemicals in tanks or piping on Watson Island, which will need to be complete by the end of 2015.