Subscribe to our daily newsletter

Husky Energy charged after oil spill in North Sask. River

Mar 26, 2018 | 12:41 PM

Husky Energy will appear in Lloydminster provincial court facing charges for the oil spill nearly two years ago.

The company has been charged with one count under the Environmental Management and Protection Act, 2010 (EMPA).

The EMPA charge alleges that Husky did “unlawfully permit the discharge of a substance to the environment that caused an adverse effect.”

The maximum fine for the EMPA charge is $1 million.

It is expected Husky will also face several charges under the federal legislation and details from Environment and Climate Change Canada will be released later this week.

In July 2016, 225,000 litres of oil leaked from a Husky pipeline into the North Saskatchewan River.

The drinking water of close to 60,000 residents was impacted as a result of the oil spill.

The investigation report, led by the Ministry of Energy and Resources will not be released until all prosecution processes and any appeals have been concluded.

As the matter is now before the courts, the government is providing no further comment.