Oil Company Fined $650,000 for Discharging Gas into the Environment

A frozen flare line at a refinery and chemical plant ruptured in two places and discharged coker stabilizer thermocracked gas into the natural environment. The discharge was detected and site sirens were immediately activated. The oil company isolated the source of the primary leak within eight minutes and the other leak within about 3 « hours. But the foul odour from the gas affected some people in the area, causing burning eyes, sore throats, headaches, light-headedness, nausea and dizziness. Some residents were also forced to remain in their homes. The oil company pleaded guilty to discharging a contaminant into the natural environment that caused an adverse effect, contrary to the Environmental Protection Act. The court fined it $650,000 [Imperial Oil Ltd., Govt. News Release, Sept. 21, 2016].