The Environment Agency has issued emergency advice to demolition contractors to carry out full environmental assessments before starting work, following an incident in Hyde which saw oil contaminate 3.5km of a canal and which cost the contractor more than £30,000.
Tameside Magistrates ordered Demolition Network to pay a £15,000 fine with £16,635 costs for the incident at a demolition site off Ann Street in Hyde.
While clearing soil from the top of a tank which was to be removed, heavy black fuel oil started leaking into the Peak Forest Canal.
The Agency says that, although the company acted responsibly, alerted it and appointed specialist contractors to clean up the oil, the incident could have been avoided if the company had taken full account of pre-demolition reports.
It could also have sought advice from the Agency which is investigating a number of similar incidents in the region.
The canal was closed for around six weeks while the contamination was cleared up, preventing a boatyard from trading and also killing wildlife.
"Operators working near drains or watercourses should take every precaution when dealing with storage tanks where the state and contents are unknown," said Stuart Lester for the Agency.
"This was a serious incident, which could have been avoided if the company had carried out the right checks and sought advice and guidance. The Agency is here to support companies who carry out activities which could have an impact on our environment. I would encourage any organisation to contact us for advice rather than have to fund an expensive clean up, and face possible prosecution."
