Achi news desk-
Days after high levels of the cancer-causing chemical benzene were discovered at the northern border of Amjiwanaang’s first arm, a chemical plant in Sarnia has been shut down.
INEOS Styrolution, a chemical maker, told Global News by email on Saturday that it had stopped operations to perform maintenance and address a mechanical problem.
The company did not specify whether the shutdown was related to increases in benzene levels detected last week, which reached 115 ug/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter) on April 16. The Ontario Ministry of the Environment has set the average annual limit for benzene at 0.45 ug/m3.
Dozens of First Nation residents reported feeling ill, and an unknown number were hospitalized.
“Ensuring the health and safety of our employees and community is of the utmost importance,” the company stated in an email to Global News, adding that operations will resume once the problem is addressed.
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Multiple First Nation sources told Global News they are not aware of any planned shutdowns planned for this month.
The First Nation’s chief and a representative of its environment department called on the provincial government to shut down the facility until the benzene emissions stop and hinted at possible legal action.
The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks issued a provincial order against INEOS on Thursday, giving the chemical maker a week to create a written plan to deal with the high levels, and two weeks to implement new procedures to warn the public about high levels of these. Toxic emissions, and less than a month to complete an investigation into the apparent source of the chemical spill.
In the order, the province stated that INEOS was a “primary source” of the high benzene levels.
Global News has also learned that at the federal level, Environment Canada has an open enforcement file related to the INEOS facility under the Environmental Emergency Regulations.
David R. MacDonald, INEOS Styrolution’s director of operations and interim site manager, stated on April 18 that the company is “carefully reviewing” the concerns raised by the Aamjiwnaang First Nation regarding benzene readings from the INEOS site.
“The site works closely with (the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks) to ensure we stay within the emissions limits set,” MacDonald wrote in an email.
– with files by Andrew Russell
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