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Canadian faces $1.2 mn fine for depleting ozone layer

INT14International/Environment/LawCanadian faces $1.2 mn fine for depleting ozone layerToronto, Sep 22 IANS A Canadian faces $1.2m in fines for releasing ozone-depleting Halon-1301 from a fire-suppression system at his property in Burnaby near Vancouver.Halons, used in fire extinguishers, are the most dangerous form of ozone-depleting substance. Scientists say Halon-1301 not only eats the ozone layer, but is also a deadly greenhouse gas "thousands of times more powerful" than carbon dioxide. Although Halon-1301 is a liquid, it vapourises instantly on release.The ozone layer at the top of the earth's atmosphere protects us from the ultraviolet rays of the sun, which can cause skin cancer. Release of ozone-depleting substances by people - mainly chlorofluorocarbons CFC and hydrochlorofluorocarbons HCFC used as refrigerants and fire retardants - has created holes in the ozone layer over the north and south polar regions.According to a report, more than 3,800 kg of Halon-1301 was released into the atmosphere two years ago, inviting the stiff penalties under Vancouver city bylaws and British Columbia provincial laws. Halon-1301 is an HCFC.The Vancouver Sun newspaper said it was the largest single release of ozone-depleting substances in recent Canadian history.The paper identified the offender as Donald Rix, a well respected Canadian who has won the nation's highest Order of Canada award and is the current chairman of the high-powered Vancouver Board of Trade.His property - 0727219 BC Ltd - is charged with releasing the ozone-depleting Halon-1301 into the atmosphere June 4, 2006. Curiously, Rix was not the owner of the property when the deadly release occurred. It was under Teleglobe, which was owned by a Los Angeles-based American, when the incident happened.But the authorities are after his company that now holds title to this property - 0727219 B.C. Ltd. That did not change during Rix's purchase, the newspaper said. Under the law, if this substance had been released during a fire, there would have been no offence.Canada banned production and import of Halons in 1994. --Indo-Asian News Servicegs/sh/jg362 Words22090942