A Quebec man has been fined $35,000 after a fuel spill in Dorval caused significant environmental damage. The Court of Québec imposed the fine on February 11, 2025, following Daniel Chayer’s guilty plea to violating two major Canadian environmental laws.
Chayer, a transport company driver, was found guilty of breaching the Fisheries Act and the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) of 1999 in connection with a mishap that occurred on January 4, 2021.
The incident involved a fuel delivery error at an Enterprise Rent-A-Car service center in Dorval, which led to a major gasoline spill and subsequent contamination of local waterways.
According to an investigation by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Chayer mistakenly transferred more than 20,000 liters of gasoline into a 5,000-liter fuel trap, resulting in a significant overflow.
Around 15,000 liters of gasoline entered the storm drainage system at the site and eventually flowed into Bouchard Creek, a fish-bearing waterway.
Under the Fisheries Act, it is illegal to deposit harmful substances into waters frequented by fish, or in areas where they may reach such waters.
The ECCC spokesperson emphasized the gravity of the offense, stating, “Depositing a harmful substance into waters frequented by fish, or in any location where it may enter such waters, is a serious violation of the Fisheries Act.”
Furthermore, Chayer’s actions also violated CEPA, which regulates petroleum storage systems in Canada. Investigators determined that the spill was a result of Chayer’s recklessness during the fuel transfer, noting that petroleum products must only be delivered to clearly marked storage tanks, a crucial safeguard that was overlooked in this case.
The fuel spill had a devastating impact on the local ecosystem, affecting species such as the Silver Redhorse, Walleye, and Northern Pike that inhabit Lake Saint-Louis, a widening of the St. Lawrence River. The contamination caused significant damage to aquatic life and the surrounding environment.
The $35,000 fine will be directed to the Government of Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund, which supports projects aimed at protecting and restoring the nation’s environment.
Since its establishment in 1995, the fund has reinvested fines from environmental violations into initiatives focused on pollution reduction and ecological restoration.
ECCC officials have underscored their commitment to strict enforcement of environmental regulations. “We take incidents like this very seriously and will continue our efforts to protect Canada’s air, water, and natural environment,” the agency stated.
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