Algoma Steel fined for 2019 spill
Algoma Steel has been fined $150,000 for an effluent spill into the St. Mary’s River near Sault Ste. Marie.
The incident occurred in October 2019.
Algoma Steel owns and operates a steel manufacturing facility located on West Street in Sault Ste. Marie. At the site, the company produces raw materials required in the manufacturing of steel, including coke, iron, and lime.
On October 18, 2019, condensate from a ruptured steam pipe infiltrated an electrical room in the coke making area on-site and triggering a power outage.
The company reported the power loss to the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks’ Spills Action Centre (SAC), and provided updates regarding the power outage to ministry officers.
As a result of the power outage, equipment and pumps were no longer operational and raw materials including tar spilled onto the ground and flowed into a drain that connected to sewage works that linked to the main water filtration plant that discharges effluent into the St. Mary’s River.
Upon discovering that spilled material had entered the drain, the company began blocking the drain and contacted SAC again to report the spill.
A chemical analysis of the discharged effluent showed that it surpassed the permissible limits for phenol, cyanide, and ammonia. A sample taken from the river also failed a toxicity test.
Given the dilution of discharge into the St. Mary’s River, which is a large body of water, ministry inspectors were unable to determine whether any species were harmed. Its investigations and enforcement branch investigated the incident and laid the charges that resulted in the conviction.
Algoma Steel is currently refurbishing a two-million-gallon tank to reduce the risk of future spills. The company has also since replaced one of its storage tanks which will enhance its ability to effectively store large quantities of raw liquor.