NOVA Chemicals says a pipeline was struck by an excavator at the construction site of its new polyethylene facility in Corunna.
As a result, brine was released to an onsite trench.
The company says no excavation work took place on Friday, so it's believed to have happened sometime on Thursday. Once identified, the brine pipeline was quickly isolated and the flow of brine to the trench was stopped.
NOVA says the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks’ Spills Action Centre, the National Energy Board, St. Clair Township Fire Department, Aamjiwnaang First Nation Safety and Emergency Response, Environment Canada, and the municipality were contacted.
Information was also shared on the CAER Industry Update line because of increased vehicle traffic in and around the Corunna Site and construction site.
NOVA says water quality sampling is ongoing and remediation is underway to remove the brine from the trench with a vacuum truck.
The scope of the environmental impact is being investigated, but the company says it's unaware of any offsite impact at this time.
There were no injuries associated with the event.
-With files from Dave Dentinger
