CN could face charges over Cheakamus derailment
Last Updated: Friday, April 13, 2007 | 10:21 AM PT
CBC News
Related
British Columbia Environment Minister Barry Penner says CN Rail may face charges related to a 2005 derailment in the Cheakamus Canyon.
Officials from Environment Canada and B.C. Conservation officers searched CN offices in Edmonton, Surrey and Prince George on Thursday.
"CN co-operated fully with the investigators as they conducted their search," said CN spokesperson Jim Feeny.
Nine CN freight cars jumped the tracks north of Squamish in August 2005, spilling caustic soda in the Cheakamus River. More than 500,000 adult and young salmon, steelhead, trout, lamprey and other species were killed after the derailment.
Penner says although there's been no decision on charges yet, CN may face penalties under both federal and provincial legislation.
"Obviously there's the federal Fisheries Act which could come into play," said Penner.
"But we also have in B.C. the Environmental Management Act and under that piece of provincial legislation, it does hold the prospect of fines up to $1 million."
The Transportation Safety Board is investigating the technical reasons behind the Cheakamus Canyon wreck and could produce a report by the end of May.
In February 2006, CN Rail agreed to contribute $1.25 million over five years to restore the Cheakamus River system in a partnership with the Pacific Salmon Foundation.
Penner said earlier he wants protective guards to be put along the canyon sections of the river to prevent future rail accidents.
Cheakamus Canyon is about 45 kilometres north of Vancouver.
With files from the Canadian PressShare Tools
Latest British Columbia News Headlines
- New Westminster man saves woman from house fire
- A New Westminster, B.C., man is being called a hero after rescuing a woman from the balcony of a burning home early Sunday morning. more »
- Adults-only trade show cancelled in B.C. Bible belt
- Organizers of an adults-only trade show say they're cancelling a three-day event that was scheduled to take place in British Columbia's Bible belt. more »
- Canada fails to advance to Davis Cup quarters
- Canada failed to advance to the Davis Cup quarter-finals Sunday as France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat surprise substitute Frank Dancevic in straight sets in Vancouver. more »
- B.C. vets call for ban on dog docking, cropping
- B.C. veterinarians are calling on the province to ban the docking and cropping of dogs' tails and ears, saying it causes unnecessary pain. more »
Top News Headlines
- Greece passes new austerity deal amid rioting
- Greek lawmakers have approved harsh new austerity measures demanded by bailout creditors to save the debt-crippled nation from bankruptcy, after riots in Athens and other cities left stores looted and burned and more than 120 people hurt. more »
- Quebec town 'heartbroken' after killing of woman, sisters
- A small Quebec town is in mourning Sunday after a Quebec man was charged with killing his nieces and his mother, who were found dead in their family home. more »
- Houston autopsy results withheld by police
- Whitney Houston was found in a hotel bathtub but it'll take weeks to determine precisely how she died, a Los Angeles coroner's official says. more »
- Musicians who died before their time
- The growing list of musicians who have died young. more »
- Former Stanley Park petting zoo goats feared slaughtered
- Adults-only trade show cancelled in B.C. Bible belt
- New Westminster man saves woman from house fire
- B.C. vets call for ban on dog docking, cropping
- Crane drops section of Port Mann bridge into B.C. river
- Langley man struck, killed by train
- RCMP request retraction over 'slanderous' article
- Pickton investigators defended by man who warned of killer
- Emailed rave rape pictures earn teen probation
