Construction company fined $20,000

A Lively-based construction company has pleaded guilty and fined $20,000 for extracting more aggregate than allowed under its licence, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Rintala Construction Company Ltd. pleaded guilty to charges under the Aggregate Resources Act. The company was fined a total of $20,000 for four counts of contravening the conditions of its licence under the Aggregate Resources Act.

From 2006 to 2009, Rintala Construction exceeded by more than 60,000 tonnes the maximum amount of aggregate it was allowed to extract under its licence for a pit in Waters Township. This is the second conviction of this type for the company, according to the MNR.

The over-extraction was reported by Rintala Construction to the Ontario Aggregate Resources Corporation, but reports submitted to the Ministry of Natural Resources stated that the extraction was in compliance with the licence.

David Yaw, who worked for the company at the time, received a suspended sentence for three counts of falsely stating that the amount extracted by the company complied with its licence, the MNR stated.

Justice of the Peace James Bubba heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice in Sudbury on March 13.

The Aggregate Resources Act is a statute that is administered and enforced by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

To report a natural resources violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any time or contact your local ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Posted by Arron Pickard