NOVA Chemicals has been fined $125,000 in Provincial Offences Court after a pipeline was struck by an excavator at the construction site of its new polyethylene facility in Corunna.
The incident, believed to have happened between August 23 and August 24, 2018, resulted in brine being released to an onsite trench.
In his decision, Environment Ministry Provincial Officer Mark Cruickshank said NOVA "did commit the offence of discharging or causing or permitting the discharge of a material, namely waste water containing brine, into a watercourse, namely the Allingham Drain, or in any waters or on any shore or bank thereof or into or in any place, which may impair the quality contrary to section 30 of the Ontario Water Resources Act."
Once identified, NOVA said the brine pipeline was quickly isolated and the flow of brine to the trench was stopped.
The company conducted water quality sampling and remediation to remove the brine from the trench with a vacuum truck. There were no injuries associated with the event.
The ministry also said NOVA Chemicals completed an internal investigation and has since taken corrective action.
The company was given 30 days to pay the fine, and a victim fine surcharge of $31,250.
-With files from Stephanie Chaves
