Iqaluit woman to pay $55K for home heating fuel spill

Rannva Simonsen of Iqaluit has been ordered to pay the Government of Nunavut $55,000 afterher home heating oil tank leaked fuel.

Government officials says it's the first time in Nunavutthat a homeowner has been fined for a leaky fuel tank.

In January 2011, Simonsen'stank leaked about 600 litres of fuel.Oil from the leakflowed right up to the edge of Apex Creek, which flows intoKoojesseeInlet.

Crown prosecutor Myriam Girard argued the fuel could have hurt fish and mammals in the bay.

TheNunavutgovernment orderedSimonsento clean up the spill but ended upcarrying out the cleanup on itsown, at a cost ofalmost $200,000.

Today, Simonsenpleaded guilty to a charge underNunavut'sEnvironmental Protection Act. The maximum fine is$300,000, butthat's typically for companies, not individuals.

Girardasked forSimonsento pay $60,000inrestitutionas a generaldeterrent, saying, "There's a need for people inIqaluitto know it can happen to you."

With Nunavut's harsh weather, Girard said fuel tanks can break at any moment, which is why homeowner diligence is important.

"In this caseit turned out that her heating fuel tank was damaged or in a poor state of repair and just leaked."

Justice NancyMossipsaidSimonsenis not a wealthy woman and the spill was not deliberate. She ruledSimonsenpay $55,000, which will go back to the Nunavut government, and a $500court fine.

Simonsen'sinsurance did not cover thespill. She will have two years to pay the $55,000 restitution and 30 days to pay the $500 fine.