Charges the company faces include: Combustion at the flare stack; release of an unapproved substance; release of a substance causing a significant adverse effect; failure to report approval contraventions; and failing to report to and providing misleading information to the director and the Fort McKay First Nation. Although there was no indication of how much gas released, a news release by the Alberta government stated that the gas release was picked up by air-monitoring equipment and confirmed through complaints from Fort McMurray residents.

With a smell akin to rotten eggs, hydrogen sulphide at low concentrations can cause dizziness, headaches, irritated respiratory pathways and nausea. Higher concentrations, however, cause sleepiness, blurred vision or death from respiratory failure.

Zoe Addington, Canadian Natural Resources spokeswoman, stated via email, "Canadian Natural takes theses charges very seriously. Because of legal proceeding, we are not commenting at this time."