Bennett Environmental Is Not in Agreement with the Conclusions of the Quebec Ministry of the Environment

Business Wire, Sept 19, 2004

OAKVILLE, Ontario -- Mr. Allan Bulckaert, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bennett Environmental Inc., is not in agreement with the conclusions of the Quebec Ministry of the Environment contained in the Prior Notice concerning the Recupere Sol plant in Saint-Ambroise, which was received late last Friday, September 17, 2004.

In sending this Prior Notice to the issuance of an Order, pursuant to Section 25 and 27 of the Quebec Environment Quality Act, the Ministry of the Environment alleges that the increase in levels of dioxins and furans are directly related to the Recupere Sol plant and ignores several other factors that are in no way linked to the operations of the Recupere Sol plant.

If issued, the Order seeks to require the Recupere Sol plant to limit its emissions of dioxins and furans, to install equipment to further monitor the emissions and to transmit the collected data to the Ministry of the Environment.On this aspect, Mr. Bulckaert stated that Bennett Environment Inc. has always complied with the requirements of the Ministry.

This Prior Notice appears to dispute the reliability of all the other analysis and conclusions, carried out over the last few years by independent experts whom have always confirmed that Bennett Environmental Inc. processes and activities are secure and efficient.

As further evidence of this, Mr. Bulckaert mentions the exemplary environmental record of the Company and the ongoing rigorous analysis and monitoring of the environmental impacts of its activities by independent experts, established in conjunction with the Quebec Ministry of the Environment, the Public Health Department and the Municipality of Saint-Ambroise.

Although he deplores the situation, Mr. Bulckaert indicates that the management of the Recupere Sol plant will cooperate with the authorities concerned to demonstrate once again that Bennett Environmental's processes and activities used at the Recupere Sol plant are reliable, efficient and secure.

In conclusion, it is important to note that the Recupere Sol plant operations will continue as usual using the same secure processes.Mr. Bulckaert would also like to state that he will present his observations to the Ministry of the Environment within the time period granted by law.

Bennett Environmental is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (Trading Symbol "BEV") and the American Stock Exchange (Trading Symbol "BEL").