Vale pleads guilty, fined $30K for polluted water from Voisey's Bay mine

Vale Newfoundland and Labrador has admitted it alloweduntreated waste water from itsVoisey's Bay mine to flowinto Edwards Cove in northern Labrador, and has been fined $30,000 in provincial court in St. John's.

The mining company previouslypleaded not guilty, butchanged that to a guilty plea Tuesday morning.

During the incident on March 26, 2013, it was determined that the mine's peroxide dosing system, which is part of the effluent treatment system, was not operational.

According to an agreed statement of facts entered in court, without the hydrogen peroxidethe reclaimed water can be intermittently toxic to fish.

The statement goes on to say that no adverse effects were detected.

$25,000 of the fine will goto the Federal Environment Damages Fund.

In January 2016, the company was found not guilty of polluting Edward's Covein a separate incident dating from2011.