Environmental consultant fined for creating a false water licence

Stephen Brown, an environmental consultant who operates the Calgary-based consulting company Brownstone Environmental Services Ltd., pleaded guilty to creating a false Temporary Diversion water licence and providing it to a pipeline company responsible for diverting water from a water body onto a roadway in an area near Bonnyville.

Under the terms of a creative sentencing order, Brown will pay a $1,000 fine to the Government of Alberta and place $9,000 in a trust for the RiverWatch Institute of Alberta. RiverWatch is an organization dedicated to educating junior and senior high school students about water quality and management. Trust funds will assist with the purchase of a raft for the institute and cover costs of a field trip program for an area junior high school. Brown is also prevented from seeking professional designations from several trade organizations for a period of one year, and will arrange for the publishing of an article regarding the offence in the Environmental Services Association of Alberta’s Weekly News publication.

Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development focuses on education, prevention and enforcement to ensure all Albertans continue to enjoy a clean and healthy environment. When individuals or companies fail to comply with legislation, the department has a range of options, depending on the offence, to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.

To view Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development’s recent compliance and enforcement actions, visit http://environment.alberta.ca/0942.html.

Media inquiries may be directed to:
Ogho Ikhalo
Communications
Environment and Sustainable Resource Development
780-427-8636
[email protected]
@aenv_srd

To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.