Farm Owner/Operator fined $5,000 for Ontario Water Resources Act Violation
Convicted - Jason Tellier
Court Location - Blemheim
Description of Offence - The conviction relates to permitting the discharge of a material into a water course that may impair the quality of the water.
Date of Offence - During the period on or about September 6, 2016
Date of Conviction - September 6, 2018
Penalty Imposed - Jason Tellier was convicted of one violation under the Ontario Water Resources Act and was fined $5,000 plus a victim fine surcharge of $1,250 with 60 days to pay.
Background -
- Jason Tellier owns and operates a farm in Chatham-Kent, which grows corn.
- Alongside the farm runs the Stevenson-Tellier Drain, which connects to several other drains that lead to the Thames River.
- On September 6, 2016, there was a discharge of corn silage seepage from the farm into the Stevenson-Tellier Drain. In response, ministry staff attended the site and observed discharge exiting the farm property and entering the drain.
- Water samples confirmed that the Stevenson-Tellier Drain, the Finn & Cooper Drain and the Raleigh Plains Drain all contained the discharge within the watercourses.
- Further analysis indicted that the discharge had a very high oxygen demand which led to very low oxygen concentrations in the drains, insufficient to sustain most aquatic life, thereby impairing the quality of water.
- The ministry's Investigations and Enforcement Branch investigated and laid charges resulting in one conviction.