The University of British Columbia (UBC) is being fined by the federal government for releasing ammonia into a tributary of the Fraser River.
The university has to pay $1.2 million after the release occurred as it attempted to repair the refrigeration system at Thunderbird Arena in 2014. According to a statement from Environment and Climate Change Canada, it resulted in the deaths of about 70 fish.
CIMCO Refrigeration, which was contracted to carry out the repairs, had been fined $800,000 after pleading guilty to depositing ammonia in an area with fish. CIMCO had used a negative pressure device to purge residual ammonia vapours, and the resulting mixture of water and ammonia was then discharged into a storm drain, which ultimately led to the Booming Ground Creek.
Environment and Climate Change Canada was first notified of the presence of ammonia on September 12, 2014, after a peculiar smell was identified. The same smell was also coming from the arena.
As a result of the fines, both the university and the company have been added to the Environmental Offender’s Registry, Global News reported. UBC has also been ordered to conduct electronic monitoring of storm-water quality in the area where the release occurred over a period of five years.
Environment and Climate Change Canada noted that UBC has filed an appeal against the convictions.
