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Proposed Refinery Development (Courtright Site) - Shell Canada Products (Archived)

Sarnia (ON)

Reasons for a Federal Assessment
Project Description
Final Decision

Reference Numbers

Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry: 08-03-27137
Transport Canada: EA 1522/NWPP8200‑06‑7342 

Environmental Assessment Type

Comprehensive study

Other Assessment Process

Government of Ontario

Responsible or Regulated Authorities

Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Transport Canada

Reasons for a Federal Assessment

On February 19, 2008, it was determined that an environmental assessment was required in relation to the project because Transport Canada considered taking action in relation to paragraph 5(1)(a) of the Navigable Waters Protection Act and Fisheries and Oceans Canada considered taking action in relation to subsection 35(2) of the Fisheries Act.

Project Description (as posted in the Notice of Commencement)

NOTE: This environmental assessment was initially started as a screening on March 15, 2007. As a result of the recent Federal Court ruling in Miningwatch Canada v. Minister of Fisheries and Oceans et al., the environmental assessment in relation to this project will be continued as a comprehensive study.

Shell canada is proposing to construct and operate facilities in the Township of St. Clair to process crude oil. These facilities will operate on an integrated basis as an extension of Shell Canada's existing refinery located in the Township of St. Clair, south of Sarnia, Ontario known as the Sarnia Manufacturing Centre (SMC). The facilities may include new processing units, docking facilities, an electricity generating facility (and transmission lines), a gasifier, road and rail improvements and pipelines that would integrate the extended facilities with the SMC. There would also be modification and decommissioning of some of the existing refinery process units at the SMC. The extended facilities would be located approximately 20 kilometres south of the SMC. The SMC is, and the extended facilities would be, situated adjacent to the St. Clair River, within the eastern Canada supply and demand "orbit" that includes Ontario and Quebec. If approved, it is expected that construction of the facilities would begin in 2009, with completion expected in 2013.

Transport Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada as responsible authorities propose that the scope of the project for the federal environmental assessment in relation to Shell's development proposal will be the construction, operation, decommissioning and/or abandonment of the proposed refinery development at the Courtright site (the extended facility) including the following proposed key physical works and associated ancillary works or activities:

Heavy Oil Refinery/Processing Plant
Ancillary Processing Units
Tank Farms and Storage Facilities (including petroleum coke storage and conveyor)
Cogeneration Plant
Water and Wastewater Management Facilities
Hazardous and Non-Hazardous Waste Management Facilities
Laydown Areas
Docking Facilities
Flare Stack
On-Site Road Works
On-Site Railway Works
Administration Buildings and Parking
Worker Village
Other works or Activities including:
Dredging
Potential Realignment and/or enclosure of watercourses with the Courtright Site along with any associated works, accesses and other undertakings directly associated with the channel works
Any compensation required to address fish habitat loss

Final Decision

The environmental assessment was terminated on July 21, 2008 because the proponent had withdrawn the project.