Lotus Express dry cleaner to pay $6,900 for environmental violations

MONTRÉAL, Que. -- June 13, 2012 -- Mr. Thanh Quang Nguyen, the former owner of Lotus Express, a dry-cleaning business operating in Laval, Quebec, pleaded guilty on June 13 at the Montréal courthouse to 17 counts of violating the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999), and the Tetrachloroethylene (Use in Dry Cleaning and Reporting Requirements) Regulations. The company was ordered to pay a fine of $6,900, which will be directed to the Environmental Damages Fund.

The alleged violations involved the reporting of false and misleading information, non-compliance with an Environmental Protection Compliance Order (EPCO) as well as violations to the Tetrachloroethylene Regulations. Tetrachloroethylene, also known as perchloroethylene (or PERC), is a solvent that is frequently used in dry cleaning and designated as a toxic substance under CEPA 1999.

The Environmental Damages Fund is administered by Environment Canada and was created in 1995 to provide the courts and companies with an option to direct monetary penalties and settlements to investments in the restoration of the environment. It helps ensure polluters take responsibility for their actions and enforces the “polluter-pays” principle.

Please consult the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, and the Environmental Damages Fund to find out more.

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