Ottawa ON (12/22/2020) – Convicted – 1150021 Glenn O. Wright Corporation operating as Glenn Wright Excavating.

Court Location – Ottawa

Description of Offence – The conviction relates to causing the discharge of natural gas into the natural environment, that may have caused an adverse effect.

Date of Offence – On or about May 2, 2017

Date of Conviction – November 25, 2020

Penalty Imposed – 1150021 Glenn O. Wright Corporation was convicted of one violation under the Environmental Protection Act and was fined $90,000, plus a victim fine surcharge of $22,500, with 60 days to pay the fine.

Background –

1150021 Glenn O. Wright Corporation provides heavy equipment rentals and excavation services under the name of Glenn Wright Excavating.

In 2017, the company was subcontracted through a verbal agreement to conduct construction work including the installation of drainage tile at a site near 131 Queen Street in Ottawa.

On May 2, 2017, the excavator operator was digging a trench at the site, when the equipment bucket struck a buried two-inch gas utility tee junction box that was connected to a four-inch natural gas line, causing the junction to crack and spill natural gas to the environment. Over several hours, approximately eight thousand cubic metres of natural gas was released.

Prior to the excavation work, the proper certified natural gas locations had been acquired, but the abandoned gas utility tee was not noted.

The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) guidelines and best practices for excavations around utilities state that hand digging must occur within 12 inches of any gas line.

Enbridge Gas Distributions Inc., the ministry and the Ottawa Fire Services attended the scene and evacuated the public, multiple business/government establishments and several area streets, thereby affecting the city’s transit system.

The natural gas was shut-off, which affected 44 area customers for several hours.

The city transit system incurred approximately $12,481.00 in additional operator costs as a result of the disruption, and Enbridge Gas incurred costs of $39,459.07 to repair the gas line.

The ministry’s Environmental Investigations and Enforcement Branch investigated and laid one charge which resulted in one conviction.

Contacts: Gary Wheeler Communications Branch Gary.S.Wheeler@ontario.ca 416-314-6666; Andrew Buttigieg Minister’s Office Andrew.Buttigieg@ontario.ca 437-224-4599