Ontario suspends Sarnia chemical plant approval over benzene emissions
Ontario's Ministry of the Environment has ordered a petrochemical facility in Sarnia to suspend its production operations after high benzene emissions, first flagged by a neighbouring First Nation.
Aamjiwnaang First Nation, which is surrounded by industrial facilities and monitors air quality readings, recently said citizens fell ill and there were high emissions of the cancer-causing substance from Ineos Styrolution.
The company said in a statement Tuesday that its own monitors didn't detect any emissions outside prescribed limits, but that it temporarily shut down to perform maintenance and address a mechanical issue.
But the ministry said Wednesday evening that "despite several previous provincial orders requiring the company to reduce benzene emissions, recent readings at this site continue to be above acceptable levels."
"Today, the decision was made to suspend Ineos Styrolution’s Environmental Compliance Approval," the ministry wrote in a statement.
"This action will ensure the facility, currently shut down 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 leaky equipment, installing full vapour control on vessels containing benzene, and implementing a comprehensive benzene monitoring and community notification plan.
"We will continue to closely monitor the company’s progress with meeting the requirements of the provincial orders, as well as actions required by the amended ECA," the ministry wrote.
"The company will be required to complete these actions and submit a startup plan to the ministry for review before they can resume their normal operations."
Ineos did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday evening, but said in its statement the previous day that it constantly monitors air quality with five state-of-the-art monitors on-site and would send alerts if there were any emissions outside the approved range.
"We have reviewed all data for the period concerned and we can confirm that our monitors recorded no emissions outside our prescribed limits," the company wrote.
"We can confirm that no one on our site has reported feeling unwell and our site continues to be a safe place to work for our employees and contractors. We hope this will be of further reassurance to our neighbours."
Members of the Aamjiwnaang First Nation have long advocated for stronger monitoring and more stringent regulations, saying they have high rates of asthma, headaches, learning and behavioural problems in children, and miscarriages.
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 mainly from crude oil.
Ontario had just last week issued a compliance order to Ineos, requiring it to develop a plan to prevent, reduce and eliminate wastewater discharge of benzene. It was also ordered to implement procedures to notify the public when benzene concentrations in the air exceed certain thresholds, and to take action to prevent, decrease and eliminate other sources of benzene discharge.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Family of toddler found dead at small-town Ont. daycare no closer to answers after year of investigation
A year has passed since two-year-old Vienna Irwin was found on the property of a home-based daycare in small-town Ontario, but her family says they are no closer to answers of what happened that day.
Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner, dead at 30
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
Humboldt Broncos crash victims and families react to decision to deport truck driver
The family of one of the victims of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018 says they are 'thankful' for a decision by a Calgary immigration board to deport the driver of the truck involved.
Fatal plane crash reported near Squamish, B.C.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has confirmed it is working with local Mounties and the BC Coroners Service after a plane crash near Squamish, B.C. Friday night.
'God forgives but we don’t': Loud outburst from stabbing victim’s family during sentencing hearing
An emotional outburst in a London, Ont. courtroom Friday disrupted the sentencing hearing of a woman who pleaded guilty for her part in the death of 29-year-old Mohammed Abdallah.
Three dead after vehicle plunged down a 100-foot embankment in Shediac, N.B.
Three people have died after a vehicle veered off the road in Shediac N.B., Friday morning.
Appeal denied for Edmonton soldier accused of trying to kill her 3 children
An Edmonton woman found guilty of trying to kill her three children has been denied an appeal.