Imperial Oil has been fined over $800,000 for a vapour release from its Sarnia plant two years ago that caused a foul stench across much of the city. The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change says the company pleaded guilty under the Environmental Protection Act to the discharge of coker stablizer thermocracked gas. The gas is comprised of a complex combination of hydrocarbons and contains hydrogen sulphide. The ministry says a frozen flare line at the plant ruptured in two locations on Friday, February 7, 2014. The discharge was detected at mid-afternoon and site sirens were activated. Gusty southwest winds caused a strong odour to waft across a large area of the city with some residents experiencing burning eyes, sore throats, headaches, light-headedness, nausea and dizziness. There was no shelter-in-place ordered for the community but Bluewater Health shutdown its air intake system as a precaution. The Environment Ministry says that in addition to the $650,000 fine, a 25 % victim fine surcharge of more than $162,000 was imposed.
