Steel Company Fined $100,000 for Not Reporting Spill

A steel company uses an MOE-approved lime kiln to process raw materials and is required to use a baghouse to prevent the kiln from discharging lime dust. When the reverse air fan for the baghouse malfunctioned, the baghouse was taken off line. But the company continued to operate the lime kiln anyway. As a result, the kiln discharged lime dust into the air, which the company failed to report to the ministry as required. The company pleaded guilty to violating the Environmental Protection Act. The court fined it $100,000 [Essar Steel Algoma Inc., Govt. News Release, July 6, 2016].