Owner of former Smurfit-Stone mill site in Bathurst charged over cleanup

The owner of the former Smurfit-Stone paper mill site in Bathurst has been charged for allegedly failing to clean up the property.

Bathurst Redevelopment Inc. was charged Monday in Bathurst provincial court with violating the provincial Clean Environment Act by allegedly failing to comply with a ministerial order to clean up the site.

Environment minister and local MLA Brian Kenny had issued an order last spring, giving the company until Aug. 14 to complete the cleanup.

The matter is scheduled to be heard in Bathurst provincial court on Sept. 28.

Companies found guilty of violations under the act could face penalties of up to $1 million.

Bathurst Redevelopment Inc. is a Canadian subsidiary of U.S.-based Green Investment Group Inc. (GIGI) and the legal owner of the old mill site.

Gerry Philippe, vice-president of GIGI's Canadian operations, declined to comment on Monday, saying he hadn't heard of any charges.

Last month, the environment minister told CBC News the department was looking into possible legal action against GIGI, which he says bought the property in 2010, with a promise of a "green" cleanup, but instead stripped the site of valuable metals and equipment, leaving it in disrepair.

The company, which also bought two former Smurfit-Stone paper mills in Quebec in 2010, also failed to complete the environmental cleanup of those sites, government officials have said.

President of GIGI, Raymond Stilwell, has said he disputes any suggestion that GIGI is more interested in profiting from scrap metal than cleaning up the sites and bringing new jobs.

The City of Bathurst contends the property is also in violation of the municipality's dangerous and unsightly premises bylaw, and that the company failed to respond to a final notice, according to Mayor Stephen Brunet.

Bathurst Redevelopment Inc. is a general partner for SSPM Bathurst, L.P., Limited Partnership, according to land registry documents obtained from the provincial government.

GIGI's website states that all SSPM L.P. companies are affiliates of GIGI, and "formed for legal and liability purposes."

Smurfit-Stone closed suddenly in 2005, leaving hundreds of people in the city without a job.