HAY RIVER - A Hay River-based company pleaded guilty on Wednesday to one charge under the Fisheries Act after diesel fuel spilled onto the frozen Hay River last April. Northern Transportation Company Ltd. reported the spill of 550 litres of diesel fuel, which occurred on April 25, said Crown prosecutor Isabelle Poulin.

The spill "came from a damaged pipe attached to a day tank belonging to the company," said Poulin.

Diesel drained onto the ice on the Hay River and the company proceeded to clean-up the spill. Poulin said that by May 5, "95 per cent of the spill had been cleaned up before it could enter the water."

"We don't know how much went into the water," said Poulin.

John Bromley, lawyer for NTCL, told the court the Coast Guard said the company did all it could to clean up the mess and that no more than 27 litres could have leaked into the water, "and likely less."

Poulin said the company has a prior conviction for a similar charge in June 2008. Bromley explained this charge was in relation to a boat belonging to NTCL being punctured at a dock that did not belong to the company. The boat leaked 8,000 litres from a small hole, which the company made efforts to clean-up. They were subsequently fined $10,000.

NTCL president David Foster apologized in court for the spill. "We are very sorry," he said, adding NTCL takes environmental conservation very seriously.

Chief Judge Brian Bruser said the suggested fine, by the Crown and defence, of a total of $4,000 was "reasonable. It is fair."

The company will pay $1,000 as a fine and $3,000 will go toward an environmental protection fund.