Bathurst Inlet (Jun 05/06) - Miramar Mining Corporation of Vancouver faces a total of five charges stemming from a 2004 diesel spill at the company's Windy Lake exploration camp near Bathurst Inlet.

Environment Canada filed the charges against Miramar and four related companies under the federal Fisheries Act, Migratory Birds Convention Act and the Nunavut Waters and Nunavut Surface Rights Tribunal Act.

Environment Canada says the company failed to follow an inspector's directions and damaged an area used by fish and migratory birds when 19,000 litres of fuel.

Craig Broome, manager of enforcement for Environment Canada, said Miramar could face up to $500,000 in fines if it's convicted on all charges.

Miramar said it cleaned the spill "promptly and effectively" at the time.

The company adopted more stringent fuel handling and containment procedures to prevent a similar occurrence from happening in the future, said Tony Walsh, president of Miramar in a press release.

The company is looking to have the charges withdrawn against companies other than Miramar Hope Bay Ltd., a subsidiary which Walsh said is the sole operator of the project.