ɫ��ɫ

SARNIA, ONT. — Imperial Oil Limited (IOL) was convicted on Sept. 16 and fined $900,000 for discharging a contaminant, namely slop oil, into the environment which caused adverse effects.

The company owns and operates a petroleum refinery and chemical manufacturing plant located on Christina Street South in Sarnia.

According to an Ontario news bulletin, the refinery uses steam tracer lines along its pipelines to prevent the pipelines from freezing during the winter. These lines are small tubes that carry steam and are located underneath the pipes’ insulation to keep them warm. Leaks in the steam tracer system are relatively common at the refinery.

In January 2021, employees found a leak along an elevated pipeline containing slop oil. Slop oil is a waste product that is typically composed of crude oil, water and waste solids. It contains various contaminants that may include hydrogen sulphide, the bulletin reads.

During the winter months, due to the risk of pipelines freezing and splitting during the repair process, the company avoids carrying out non-critical stream tracer repairs and instead schedules the repairs when the weather is warmer, based on a priority ranking system.

The steam tracer leak in January 2021 was designated as a second level priority where the risk level was considered acceptable to leave unrepaired if a freeze occurred (below zero temperatures).

In April, prior to scheduled repairs, steam escaping from the steam tracer line leak bored a hole in the nearby slop oil line resulting in a spill of approximately 1,150 litres of slop oil. Subsequent air monitoring did not detect hydrogen sulphide, volatile organic compounds or gas vapour, the release states.

However, the discharge of slop oil caused adverse effects to people at two nearby businesses and residents of Aamjiwnaang First Nation, including “the loss of enjoyment and use of property and interference with the normal conduct of business,” the release continues.

Individuals also reported experiencing eye, nose and throat irritation, as well as headaches and nausea. Strong odours were also reported.

As a result of this incident, IOL revised the steam leak repair prioritization criteria to include the potential impact to the community as part of the highest priority criteria when assessing relative repair priority of steam leaks at the refinery.

The ministry’s Environmental Investigations and Enforcement Branch investigated and laid a charge which resulted in the conviction.

The company has been ordered to pay the fine plus a victim fine surcharge of $225,000 and was given 90 days to pay.