Company to begin removing benzene from Sarnia, Ont., petrochemical plant

IneosStyrolution will start removing benzene from its Sarnia, Ont., plant this weekend, as partof a plan to bring the facility in line with tighter environmental regulations afterAamjiwnaang First Nation sounded the alarm over emissions of the cancer-causing chemical.

Janelle Nahmabin says the petrochemical plant, which is next to Aamjiwnaang First Nation, has been a concern to her community for generations.

"[It's] environmental justice. That's what it comes down to," said Nahmabin, acting chair of Aamjiwnaang First Nation council.

The plant has been shut down since mid-April. Ineosdecidedto temporarily close the plant after air quality monitorsshowed heightened levels of benzene and members of Aamjiwnaang First Nation became sick.

In May, the Ontario government revoked the plant's environmental compliance approval after elevatedlevels of benzene were detected in the area, forcing Ineosto remain closed. The company later said it wouldbe shuttering itsdoors permanently.

The company will shortly begin moving benzene by ship to a plant outside of Canada as part of the first phase of the project.

Ineos said in an alert to the community that modelling confirms there is "no anticipated off-site impact above new regulatory/health-based limits during this phase of the plan."

The alert went on to say that while the activity "may result in increased emissions" removing the benzene is a requirement of both the provincial and federal environment ministries.

While Aamjiwnaang council usually only shuts down itsoffices if benzene levels reach 27 micrograms per cubic metre of air, councilclosed the offices on Friday as a preventative measure.

If benzene concentrations from Ineos's fence line monitors exceed 75 per centof the benzene limits during the move, a public notification will go out to residents via the Sarnia-Lambton Alert System, according to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

Nahmabin, who has been regular meetings with the Ministry of Environment and Ineos, says part of the plant's second removal phase is causing her great concern, as it's possible benzene levels could rise to around 600 micrograms per cubic metre then.

"That would trigger an absolute evacuation for us here," said Nahmabin.

Aamjiwnaang First Nation, Ineosand the province are working together to try and limit the risk involved with the next phase, according to Nahmabian.

Nahmabin says council has weekly meetings with Ineos and she's grateful for what she says is increased communication between the company and her community.

"We need to co-create the path forward. True environmental justice means working with Aamjiwnaang First Nation," said Nahmabin.

Heightened regulations will have economic impact

Benzene created at refineries in Sarnia-Lambton is transferred to Ineosby pipeline and stored in tanks that sit across the road from Aamjiwnaang's band offices and baseball diamonds. Ineos wouldthen processthe benzene into styrene, which is used in plastic parts for the medical and automotive industries.But new regulations bar Ineosfrom receiving or storing benzene.

Ineoshas appealedthe government's stronger regulations saying the required changes to their facility can't be made safely and would cost $50 million to implement.

The plastics plant now says it will permanently shut its doors by June 2026, leaving its 80 employees without jobs.

Carrie McEachran is the CEO of Sarnia-Lambton's Chamber of Commerce. While she says the environmental regulations are in place for a reason, she wants all possible impacts to be considered when regulations are set.

"The concern is that decisions are being made and regulations are being changed without a full consultation and analysis of the entire system," said McEachran.

The Sarnia-Lambton area is a big producer of petrochemicals with many interconnected companies and changes at the Ineosplant "will have a ripple effect on the entire industry," McEachran added.

Nahmabin says shutting down the petrochemical isn't her community's goal, but that public safety must be protected.

"Knowing the effects of certain chemicals, it's not only our concern it affects Corunna, Froomfield, Sarnia and surrounding areas."