Rio Tinto Alcan fined $100,000 for chemical release in Saguenay River

SAGUENAY, Que. — Aluminum maker Rio Tinto Alcan has been fined $100,000 for releasing hydrochloric acid into the Saguenay River in 2016.

Environment and Climate Change Canada’s enforcement officers charged the company over the release of 1.7  cubic-metres of hydrochloric acid into the river December 13 and 15, 2016.

Rio Tinto Alcan pleaded guilty to violating subsection 36(3) of the Fisheries Act and will be added to the Environmental Offenders Registry.

Hydrochloric acid is used in the production of alumina.