Released on February 18, 2014
A man has been fined $2,250 in La Ronge Provincial Court for the unauthorized alteration of the shoreline at Lac La Ronge.Walter Bergsveinson of La Ronge was convicted under The Environmental Management and Protection Act for unlawfully removing vegetation from the bank of a lake without a valid permit and was fined $2,100. He was also convicted under The Park Regulations for removing vegetation from Lac La Ronge Provincial Park without a permit and was fined $150.
In addition to the fines, Bergsveinson was issued an Environmental Protection Order to clean up the altered site in accordance with a remediation plan.
The charges were laid as the result of a call to the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport in La Ronge in October of 2012. An investigation by conservation officers with the Ministry of Environment found that Bergsveinson had removed vegetation in front of his lakefront cottage in the Wadin Bay subdivision at Lac La Ronge. The work was done without the proper environmental authorization and permits.
Property owners who are conducting work in and around water should contact a Ministry of Environment office to get clarification on permitting requirements. A conviction for altering a creek or shoreline without the proper permits carries a maximum fine of $1 million.
“Ministry staff can help ensure property owners’ plans meet environmental regulations and issue the provincial permits required to do the work,” Ministry of Environment Compliance and Field Services Executive Director Kevin Callele said. “Following the rules and getting the proper permits protects the environment and the property owner.”
If you suspect environmental, fisheries, wildlife or forestry violations, call the local Ministry of Environment office, Saskatchewan’s toll-free Turn In Poachers line at 1-800-667-7561 or #5555 for SaskTel cell phone subscribers, or report a violation online at www.saskatchewan.ca/conservation. Residents may be eligible for cash rewards from the SaskTip Reward Program.
The Ministry of Environment provides science-based solutions, compliance and mitigation measures aimed at protecting the environment, safeguarding communities and helping to ensure a better quality for life for all Saskatchewan residents.
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For more information, contact:
Barbara Barootes
Environment
Regina
Phone: 306-787-6595