June court date set in Saskatchewan Husky pipeline leak case

MAIDSTONE, SASK. — Court proceedings brought against Husky Energy Inc. and Husky Oil Operations Limited after a pipeline leaked into the North Saskatchewan River have been adjourned until June 21.

Calgary-based Husky requested the adjournment in order to have more time to review 10 charges of violating both Saskatchewan and federal environmental laws.

Environment and Climate Change Canada laid the charges on March 22 related to the July 2016 spill of 225,000 litres of blended heavy crude-oil impacting the North Saskatchewan River near Maidstone, Sask. The Government of Saskatchewan also filed a charge under the Environmental Management and Protection Act.

The 10 charges stem from a 19-month joint federal and provincial investigation, and include one charge under subsection 36(3), one charge under subsection 38(5) and six charges under subsection 38(6) of the federal Fisheries Act, as well as one charge under the federal Migratory Birds Convention Act, and one under the Province of Saskatchewan’s Environmental Management and Protection Act.

Approximately 40 per cent of the leaked crude got into the river, which caused an oil plume flowing downstream and forced North Battleford, Prince Albert and Melfort to shut their water intakes for almost two months.

Husky has accepted full responsibility for the incident and the pipeline was allowed to restart in October after repairs and an inspection.

— With files from the Canadian Press