Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2026
Nova Chemicals fined $150,000 over January 2024 benzene spill at Corunna site
Fine or penalty
Nova Chemicals was fined $150,000 and ordered to pay a $37,500 victim surcharge after a conviction under Ontario's Environmental Protection Act was registered on June 22 in Sarnia court, in connection with a January 20, 2024 spill of approximately 1,475 litres of process material primarily consisting of benzene at its Corunna petrochemical plant near Sarnia. Ontario's Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks said the conviction was for having control of a spilled pollutant, benzene, and failing to notify the ministry, which the company contacted about two hours after the spill; the benzene leaked from the gearbox vent of a pump due to a failed seal. The ministry reported no instances of adverse health impacts and said Nova was cooperative throughout the investigation.
Company response
Remediation — Nova Chemicals
Nova was reported to have eliminated all vapour released from the pool shortly after the spill
Source excerpt
The company was charged following an investigation by the ministry’s enforcement branch.
It said approximately 1,475 litres of process material primarily consisting of benzene was discharged at the site Jan. 20, 2024.
The conviction is for having control of a pollutant that was spilled, namely benzene, and failing to notify the ministry
2021
Nova Chemicals fined over Corunna brine discharge
Fine or penalty
Nova Chemicals was convicted under the Ontario Water Resources Act for discharging wastewater containing brine into a watercourse and impairing water quality. The court imposed a $125,000 fine plus costs.
Company response
Investigation — Nova Chemicals
After an internal investigation, Nova officials determined the contractor – who was not named in court while Nova declined to identify them in the statement – failed to follow their policies for locating and digging near buried pipelines, including a rule about using non-mechanical methods within three metres.
Remediation — Nova Chemicals
A new, more accurate system has since been installed on all pipelines at the Corunna site at “significant cost,” he said.
Source excerpt
About 245,000 litres of brine, a high-concentration salt-water solution, also flowed into the area
Nova was convicted on May 27 of a single charge under the Ontario Water Resources Act of discharging or causing or permitting the discharge of wastewater containing brine into a watercourse and impairing the quality of the water.
Justice of the peace Debra Isaac imposed the suggested fine “plus costs.”