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ENVIRONMENT: Calgary’s Tiger Industries Limited fined $280,000 for sulphur dioxide release
        (AlbertaIndex, November 5, Monday) --- Calgary-based Tiger Industries Limited Partnership has been fined $280,000 after pleading guilty on October 30 to one charge of releasing a substance that causes or may cause a significant adverse effect under Alberta’s Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act. Tiger Industries was given until February 29, 2008 to pay the fine, said Alberta Environment.
        The ministry said the plea stems from an incident in January 2005, involving the release of sulphur dioxide from the company’s fertilizer plant in Calgary’s Foothills Industrial Park. Sulphur dioxide is a colorless, toxic and corrosive gas produced during burning of sulphur-containing fuels such as coal and oil, during metal smelting, and by other industrial processes.

The release resulted in a large response by city emergency workers and Alberta Environment. Several city emergency response personnel reported adverse health effects related to their exposure to the gas. One was treated in hospital and several others reported reduced lung function as a result of the incident.

Alberta Environment said its investigation determined that the release was the result of an unexpected chemical reaction during a production run of a sulphur-based fertilizer blend. The combination of un-degassed sulphur and an impurity in a copper micronutrient resulted in a chemical reaction that produced significant quantities of sulphur dioxide.

The company operated the plant under an approval from Alberta Environment. This approval stipulated the use of degassed sulphur. After the incident the company implemented procedures to ensure the use of degassed sulphur only and compatibility of the ingredients before each production run. The facility has since been sold.

Through unannounced inspections, education and strict enforcement measures Alberta Environment said its compliance assurance program ensures that individuals and companies adhere to the Acts and Regulations Alberta has in place to protect human health, safety and the environment.


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