MONTREAL – After being given an ultimatum, Reliance Power Equipment has agreed to comply to a final deadline to clean up their mess.
The company responsible for an oil spill back in March has already been given many ultimatums to start this clean-up process, but reports state they have continued to ignore government requests.
Yves-François Blanchet, the Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Wildlife and Parks explained on Thursday that he is required by law to give Reliance Power Equipment one last chance (in the form of a 24-hour delay) to prove it has secured its building and yard and is committed to getting rid of dozens of old transformers and barrels of oil containing toxic amounts of Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
This week’s final ultimatum represents what is allegedly culmination of five months of reminders, legal notices, sample-takings, inspections and phone calls involving the provincial department, municipal officials, Reliance and various private actors.
The yard, situated on Hymus Blvd in Pointe-Claire, is filled with hundreds of liters of toxic waste.
Frequent inspections found many acts of illegal activity and incorrect disposal of the products.
As part of the agreement, supervision of the clean up is charged to the company.
“The company told us last night of its intention to cooperate fully, but after weeks of unsuccessful attempts that comply with our requirements,” said Blanchet.
“I welcome the response of Reliance with reservations. My level of distrust is conditioned by the behavior of the leaders of the company in recent years, and is very low.”
MDDEFP expects to receive a preliminary action plan in accordance with its requirements by September 3 2013.
This plan is expected to include details on how the company will ensure full and permanent security of the site as well as how they plan to set up a safe and compliant storage techniques.
The Environment Minister has stated he will be watching closely.
If they hear Reliance has failed in their clean-up, the Department will step in and take care of the matter at the company’s expense.
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