Andrew Raven
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 09/04) - Miramar Con Mine was fined $90,000, Wednesday, after company officials admitted cyanide-laced water had been released into the environment.

Lawyers for the company entered guilty pleas to two violations of the NWT Waters Act, nearly two years after inspectors first noticed dead vegetation at Yellowknife's oldest gold mine.

"It's not sod they're dealing with here," said Chief Judge Michel Bourassa, who presided over the case.

The judge ordered the company to pay $80,000 of the fine into a fund set up by Environment Canada, designed to protect the environment in the Yellowknife area.

"(The company) deals with chemicals that are extraordinarily harmful to people. Extraordinary care should be taken," Bourassa said.

Government inspectors first noticed dead vegetation near one of the mine's two major tailings ponds -- pools where effluent is treated before being released into the environment -- in June of 2002.

Tests were done on the vegetation, but ultimately proved to be inconclusive, Crown attorney Caroline Carrasco told the court.

Then in late October of 2002, company scientists discovered that water -- containing cyanide levels well above the allowable limit -- had been released into a chain of lakes that empty into Great Slave Lake.

Company officials told the government about the mishap and environmental officials launched an investigation.

The cyanide levels in the water, which was released between Oct. 19 and 21, were close to 50 per cent above the allowable limit. Carrasco said the cyanide presented a possible danger to fish, but Crown officials were unable to determine the impact of the spill.

No one on duty

Company scientists normally monitor the cyanide levels closely, said Miramar's lawyer, but the October mishap happened on a weekend while no one was on duty.

Wednesday's convictions marked the second time in the last seven years the company has been found guilty of breaking environmental laws.

During Wednesday's court session, both the Crown's office and Miramar lawyers recommended the $90,000 fine. Bourassa, who wasn't bound by the recommendation, said it was on the lower end of the spectrum for a second offence, but ultimately "not outside the range."