Dry cleaner in British Columbia fined $10K for violations to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999

Kamloops, British Columbia – November 30, 2017 – Environment and Climate Change Canada

Canadians value clean air and a sustainable environment. Environment and Climate Change Canada’s enforcement officers work tirelessly to protect our environment through the enforcement of our federal environmental laws.

On October 23, 2017, Lorick Ventures Inc., under the name McCleaners, was fined $10,000 in the Provincial Court of British Columbia after pleading guilty to two counts of contravening the Tetrachloroethylene (Use in Dry Cleaning and Reporting Requirements) Regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.

In December 2015, Environment and Climate Change Canada’s enforcement officers inspected the site. The inspection revealed an open container and a 15-gallon drum, which contained a tetrachloroethylene residue, and the absence of a secondary containment system—violations to the Tetrachloroethylene (Use in Dry Cleaning and Reporting Requirements) Regulations.

As a result of this conviction, the company's name will be added to the Environmental Offenders Registry, and the penalty will be directed to the Environmental Damages Fund.

Quick facts

• Tetrachloroethylene, also known as PERC, enters the environment through the atmosphere, where it can damage plants and find its way into groundwater.
• The Environmental Offenders Registry contains information on convictions of corporations having committed offences under certain federal environmental laws.
• The Environmental Damages Fund is administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada. Created in 1995, it provides a way to direct funds received as a result of fines, court orders, and voluntary payments to projects that will benefit our natural environment.

Associated links

• Canadian Environmental Protection Act Registry
• Environmental Offenders Registry
• Environmental Damages Fund

Contacts

Media Relations
Environment and Climate Change Canada
819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll free)
ec.media.ec@canada.ca