Government Criticizes Paramount Resources’ Spill Remediation
The Northwest Territories government has expressed strong disapproval of Paramount Resources Ltd.’s remediation efforts following a 4,000-cubic-meter spill at the Pointed Mountain Surge Pond in June 2022. The pond is owned by Paramount Resources, and the company is responsible for cleaning up the defunct natural gas production site. The department of Environment and Climate Change submitted a final remediation report in September, which included several outstanding recommendations, such as permanent plans for contaminated soil, continued monitoring, and the remediation of other areas of the site.
In an email to the company, Wendy Bidwell, senior water resource officer, stated that the department firmly believes Paramount’s method of using emergency measures for a long-term waste discharge is unacceptable and should not be used by the company or others in the future. Unfortunately, Paramount Resources was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.
Past Violations and Ongoing Concerns
This incident is not the first time the company has faced scrutiny for its site maintenance and remediation practices. In 2018, an environmental inspection found high levels of chloride leaking at the Pointed Mountain surge pond, prompting a water license application. At the time, the company was found in violation of the territory’s Waters Act.
First Nation Lawsuit
Paramount Resources is now facing a lawsuit from the Acho Dene Koe First Nation. The nation alleges that Paramount has not honored the community benefit agreements put in place in 1999 and 2000. The lawsuit seeks approximately $1.4 million in damages and is expected to be heard by the Supreme Court in the coming months.
The Acho Dene Koe First Nation previously requested the territorial government to enforce the benefits agreement in 2020. However, a judge ruled that the agreement was contractual and private between the two parties.
