NOVA fined $150K after 2024 benzene leak
NOVA fined $150K after 2024 benzene leak
October 16, 2026
The Independent
NOVA Chemicals has been found guilty of failing to report a benzene spill at its Petrolia Line plant.
On Jan. 20, 2024, there was a spill of about 1,475 litres of benzene.
An investigation found the benzene leaked out of the gear box vent of a pump due to a failed seal within the pump. The benzene which spilled from the pump came out in liquid and vapour form. The liquid benzen polled on the ground near the pump, where it froze, according to a news release from the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks. “NOVA’s remediation efforts were reported to have eliminated all vapour released from the pool shortly after the spill,” says the ministry.
While NOVA sent out an alert to subscribers of Lambton Alerts, but didn’t notify the MECP until two hours after the spill after being directed to do so.
While there were no reported health impacts and NOVA was cooperative with the ministry throughout the investigation, the Environmental Investigations and Enforcement laid charges of failing to report the spill.
The company was found guilty in Sarnia court in June.
NOVA has been fined $150,000 plus $37,500 in a victim’s surplus charge with four months to pay.
In 2024, NOVA Chemicals Corporation generated annual revenue of $3.6 billion US.
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