Moncton landfill discharge (February 18, 2002)

On February 7, 2002, Environment Canada’s Atlantic region enforcement officers charged the City of Moncton, New Brunswick, Commissioner of Public Works Geoff Greenough, and Gemtec Ltd., a consulting engineering firm (and one of its employees) in connection with toxic leachate allegedly discharged from a decommissioned municipal landfill.

The charges, under the federal Fisheries Act, allege that leachate samples from the city-owned site are acutely lethal to fish and that the leachate is entering Jonathan Creek, a tributary of the Petitcodiac River. As well, it is alleged that the landfill closure plan selected by the city was not in compliance with the Fisheries Act.

Environment Canada initiated the investigation as a result of evidence provided by Sentinelles Petitcodiac Riverkeeper, a local Moncton environmental group.
The four parties charged will make a first appearance in Provincial Court in Moncton on April 3, 2002.

Contact David Aggett at 902-426-1925