Imperial Oil Limited has been convicted under the Environmental Protection Act, fined $900,000 plus a $225,000 victim surcharge for discharging slop oil into the environment.
IOL’s Sarnia refinery uses steam tracer lines under pipeline insulation. A January 2021 tracer leak bored a hole in a slop oil line, spilling ~1,150 litres of waste composed of crude oil, water, and solids.
The spill caused eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, nausea, and strong odours for nearby businesses and Aamjiwnaang First Nation residents, disrupting property use and business operations.
IOL revised its steam leak prioritization to include community impact, classifying the January 2021 leak as highest priority for repairs moving forward.