CALEB NICKERSON
MANSFIELD ET PONTEFRACT March 18, 2021
A Pontiac man has been hit with a hefty fine by the provincial Ministry of the Environment after he improperly disposed of wastewater several years ago.
A press release from the ministry, issued March 18, states that James Bowers, associated with the J & A Bowers Motel in Mansfield, released or allowed the release of contaminated wastewater on July 5, 2018, in violation of Article 20 of the Environmental Quality Act. The release states that the water, contaminated with . . .
various bacteria including E. coli, was likely to cause damage to the quality of the environment, for which Bowers was fined $10,000. He was also ordered to reimburse the ministry for their legal costs, which amounted to $1,478 for a grand total of $11,478.
According to ministry spokesperson Sophie Gauthier, sewage had over flowed from a manhole at the back of the motel and spilled directly on the ground. A complaint was made on Nov. 8, 2016 regarding the discharge of untreated wastewater and an inspection the same day confirmed the merits of the complaint. During two follow up inspections, nothing was done to ensure compliance, and the file was transferred to the ministry’s investigations division.
On Feb. 23, 2017, Bowers received an administrative monetary penalty of $2,000 for the discharge of a contaminant into the environment. Gauthier noted in an email that an administrative penalty is used to pressure an offender to comply with the law quickly and is a process distinct from a criminal offence.
THE EQUITY reached out to Bowers for comment but he did not respond in time for print.
