Vale accused of dumping 'lethal effluent' in Labrador bay

Vale Newfoundland and Labrador is facing charges under the Fisheries Act for allegedly dumping "lethal effluent" in Anaktalak Bay, near the Voisey's Bay nickel mine site.

In all, Vale is facing three charges, according to court documents.

They are:

• Unlawfully depositing a deleterious substance — "acutely lethal effluent" — into waters frequented by fish in October 2011;
• Failing to take all reasonable measures, following the deposit of a deleterious substance, to prevent the occurrence (also in October 2011);
• Failing to submit an effluent monitoring report for the fourth quarter of 2011 within the required time frame.

The court documents do not outline the nature of the "acutely lethal effluent."

The charges were filed June 12.

The company's next court date is Aug. 30.

Vale is declining comment while the case is before the courts.