TORONTO — Jan Sapper has been charged $5,000 for one violation under the Environmental Protection Act, after causing the discharge of a contaminant that caused, or was likely to cause, an adverse effect.
The offence took place during the period beginning on or about June 21, 2021 and ending on or about June 22, 2021. The conviction was handed down April 23 from a Mississauga, Ont. court.
In addition to the $5,000 fine, Sapper was also charged a victim fine surcharge of $1,250 and given 24 months to pay.
At the time of the offences, Sapper was employed as a locator for a business that finds, confirms and marks where services such as gas, water and cable lines are for individuals and companies wishing to excavate, drill into, or place something in the ground.
In June 2021, Sapper attended a property on Blythe Road in Mississauga to conduct a locate request, prepared a locate document and provided it to an onsite representative.
Despite being supplied with the resources required to locate the high-pressure natural gas pipeline that ran under the site, Sapper neglected to conduct a scan of the ground to verify the main gas line and did not identify or physically mark the location of the pipeline. He also did not include it on the provided locate document.
A utility company attended the site to install electrical services and during the installation process, staff were provided with the locate and horizontal drilling was conducted of the ground.
The horizontal drill struck and pierced the pipeline, resulting in a 10-centimetre hole and the release of high-pressure natural gas into the environment.
The ministry’s Environmental Investigations and Enforcement Branch investigated and laid charges which resulted in the conviction.
Recent Comments