The business was convicted of one violation under the Environmental Protection Act and was fined $100,000 plus a victim fine surcharge of $25,000, with eight months to pay the fine.
Background:
The business operates a facility in the County of Lambton, which produces food grade carbon dioxide and is supplied with raw carbon dioxide from a neighboring supplier. The carbon dioxide flows from the supplier through a dedicated pipeline, which is then liquefied and purified with the assistance of an ammonia-based refrigeration system.
The facility is staffed during daytime hours seven days a week but does not have staff on-site during the night. On April 16, 2017, in the early morning hours when no staff was at the facility, the flow of raw carbon dioxide unexpectedly increased. As a result, raw carbon dioxide exceeded the refrigeration capacity at the facility and caused approximately 1,800 pounds of ammonia to vent through cooling system pressure release valves.
At a distribution plant approximately 1/2 mile downwind from the facility, two employees were forced to seek shelter from the ammonia odor, leaving the distribution plant unattended and creating a potentially dangerous situation. One of the employees experienced eye and throat irritation. The ministry’s Investigations and Enforcement Branch investigated and laid charges resulting in one conviction.