Chemical Manufacturing Facility Fined $200,000 for Environmental Protection Act Violation

Table of Contents

1. Content
2. Related Topics
3. Media Contacts

Convicted - Rain Carbon Canada Inc.

Court Location - Hamilton

Description of Offence - The conviction is for failure to report a discharge to the natural environment.

Date of Offence - Beginning on October 23, 2023, to October 25, 2023

Date of Conviction - February 26, 2026

Penalties Imposed -

• Rain Carbon Canada Inc. was convicted of 1 violation under the Environmental Protection Act, fined $200,000 plus a victim fine surcharge of $50,000, and given 30 days to pay.

Background -

• Rain Carbon Canada Inc. (Rain Carbon) operates under Rain Carbon Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Rain Industries Ltd.

• Rain Carbon operates a coal tar and petroleum processing facility at 725 Strathearne Ave. in Hamilton.

• Rain Carbon receives coal tar by rail car, tanker truck and marine vessel, and stores coal tar feedstock and products in above ground storage tanks.

• Rain Carbon operates under Environmental Compliance Approvals issued by the ministry.

• On October 23, 2023, the ministry was conducting routine air monitoring of Rain Carbon with its Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer (TAGA) unit. Levels of benzene far above the ministry's short-term, one-hour benchmark were detected coming from Rain Carbon's facilities. Similar benzene levels were detected by the ministry twice on October 25, 2023.

• Rain Carbon was legally required to report this immediately to the ministry, but failed to do so.

• The ministry notified Rain Carbon of the test results on October 23, 2023.

• Rain Carbon applied a temporary patch on Tank 6 on October 23, 2023; however, it was found to be still leaking until October 25, 2023.

• The ministry's Environmental Investigations and Enforcement Branch investigated and laid charges which resulted in the conviction.

Related Topics