A property owner, a contractor, and a company have been fined a total of $32,000 after petroleum-contaminated water was found in the Napanee River in 2022.
The Ontario Ministry of the Environment says 2840888 Ontario Inc., Gangjian (Michael) Li, and contractor Jia Jun Xu were convicted of environmental offences for their roles in the spill.
The case began after Town of Greater Napanee staff were noticed of a strong diesel smell and visible fuel sheen in the river near East Street in June 2022. The source was traced to a flooded basement being drained on a nearby property owned by the numbered company.
Water and soil tests confirmed the presence of petroleum hydrocarbons. The Ministry says the spill may have harmed fish, birds, and other wildlife, including species at risk.
Li and the company were fined under the Ontario Water Resources Act for discharging contaminated water. Xu was fined for failing to report the spill under the Environmental Protection Act.
None of the parties reported the incident to the Ministry. Abatement work ultimately cost approximately $13,000.
The convictions were handed down in 2024 after an investigation by the Ministry’s Environmental Investigations and Enforcement Branch.
Written by Emily Chatwood
