In a significant enforcement action, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks has levied a total of $170,000 in fines against a poultry processing facility and a transportation company for violations of the Environmental Protection Act.
The poultry processing facility, Olybro Inc., based in Brampton, was fined $110,000 for an incident involving the release of ammonia, a hazardous substance, into the environment. The incident occurred when a pressure release valve malfunctioned, discharging ammonia vapors that affected approximately 100 employees, eight of whom experienced adverse health effects. The company failed to immediately notify the ministry’s Spills Action Centre, as required by law.
In a separate case, Laplante Poultry Farms Ltd., located in Monkland, Ontario, was fined $22,000 for failing to comply with the conditions of two Environmental Compliance Approvals (ECAs). The violations included inadequate monitoring of biofilters, failure to implement noise control measures, and neglecting to submit required operational manuals and emissions testing results.
These cases underscore the importance of strict adherence to environmental regulations to protect public health and the environment. The Ministry continues to monitor and enforce compliance to ensure that businesses operate responsibly.
