Ontario’s Environment Ministry has ordered a petrochemical facility in Sarnia to suspend its production operations after high benzene emissions were first flagged by a neighboring First Nation.
Aamjiwnaang First Nation, which is surrounded by industrial facilities and monitors air quality readings, recently said that citizens fell ill and that Ineos Styrolution had high emissions of a cancer-causing substance.
The company said in a statement Tuesday that its own monitors did not detect any emissions outside prescribed limits, but it was temporarily shut down to conduct maintenance and resolve a mechanical problem.
But the ministry said Wednesday evening that “despite several previous provincial orders requiring the company to reduce benzene emissions, recent readings at this site remain above acceptable levels.”
“Today, it was decided to suspend the environmental compliance approval of Ineos Styrosolution,” the ministry wrote in a statement.
“This action will ensure that the facility, which is currently closed for maintenance, fully addresses the causes and sources of emissions.”
The facility must meet certain conditions, including suspending production operations at the facility, removing all benzene storage from the site, repairing leaking equipment, installing full vapor controls on vessels containing benzene and conducting a comprehensive benzene monitoring and community notification. Involves implementing the plan.
The email you need for the day
Top news from Canada and around the world.
“We will continue to closely monitor the company’s progress in meeting the requirements of the provincial orders, as well as the actions required by the amended ECA,” the ministry wrote.
“The company will be required to complete these tasks and submit a startup plan to the ministry for review before resuming its normal operations.”
Ineos did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday evening, but said in a statement the previous day that it continuously monitors air quality with five state-of-the-art monitors at the site and will send alerts if there are any emissions outside. Approved limit.
“We have reviewed all data for the relevant period and can confirm that our monitors have not recorded any emissions outside our prescribed limits,” the company wrote.
“We can confirm that no one on our site has reported feeling unwell and our site remains a safe place to work for our employees and contractors. “We hope this will be more reassuring to our neighbours.”
Members of the Aamjiwnaang First Nation have long advocated for stronger surveillance and more stringent regulations, saying they have higher rates of asthma, headaches, learning and behavioral problems in children and abortion.
The Ineos factory makes styrene for use in making plastics including Styrofoam containers and trays and foam packing pellets. Styrene is made from benzene, a petrochemical extracted primarily from crude oil.
Ontario just last week issued a compliance order to Ineos, requiring it to develop a plan to prevent, reduce and eliminate wastewater discharges of benzene. It was also ordered to implement procedures to inform the public when benzene concentrations in the air exceed certain limits and to take action to prevent, reduce and eliminate other sources of benzene discharges.
© 2024 The Canadian Press