A spill in the St. Clair River has been successfully contained by Suncor, the oil refinery located in Sarnia, Ontario. The company discovered a hydrocarbon sheen on the river during routine monitoring around 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday. A hydrocarbon sheen typically appears as a black-brown tint from petroleum products and exhibits a shiny or iridescent look on the water’s surface.
Suncor confirmed that the source of the release has been identified and controlled. Immediate response measures were implemented, including deploying booms and vacuum equipment along the St. Clair River. Cleanup efforts are underway with assistance from the Eastern Canada Response Corporation.
The spill originated from Suncor’s stormwater collection system, as reported by Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment. The responsibility for cleaning up the spill lies with the refinery company. Ongoing cleanup operations are in progress, with booms in place to contain any remaining spill material. The ministry stated that there have been no reported impacts on wildlife and announced plans for further assessment of the cleanup progress.
Details about the spill’s size and duration of discharge into the water have not been disclosed yet. However, as of Thursday at 9 a.m., the city’s alert system confirmed no downstream effects from the spill and assured that the municipal water system remained unaffected.
Suncor has informed relevant regulatory agencies and local community organizations about the incident. The Sarnia refinery, operational since 1952, processes approximately 85,000 barrels of oil daily.