Ontario’s Environment Ministry says it is suspending the Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) for INEOS Styrolutions in Sarnia, citing benzene readings that “continue to be above acceptable levels.”
The news comes following a statement from the company this week claiming it did not breach its emissions limit.
"Despite several previous provincial orders requiring the company to reduce benzene emissions, recent readings at this site continue to be above acceptable levels,” noted a statement from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, issued late Wednesday. "This action will ensure the facility, currently shut down for maintenance, fully addresses the causes and sources of emissions.”
An Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) is a permission that allows businesses to operate their facility or site with environmental controls that protect human health and the natural environment.
“The ECA has been amended to add conditions that the facility must meet, including the suspension of production operations at the facility, removal of all benzene storage from the site, repair of leaky equipment and installation of full vapour control on vessels containing benzene, and a comprehensive benzene monitoring and community notification plan,” the Ministry added. "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 company will be required to complete these actions and submit a start-up plan to the ministry for review before they can resume their normal operations.”
Recent reports of elevated benzene levels have shuttered the community and prompted the Chief and council to declare a state of emergency, after residents complained of being ill and air monitors at the First Nation showed levels of benzene well above the provincial limits.
But INEOS said in a statement this week that the Sarnia site’s own state-of-the-art air monitors recorded “no emissions outside our prescribed limits.”
INEOS did not specify what those prescribed limits are, and a request for comment has not been returned.
The Journal has also reached out to the Ministry for specifics on the approved range for benzene emissions at INEOS.
“We constantly monitor air quality, with five state-of-the-art monitors on our Sarnia site and additional monitors throughout the surrounding area,” the company stated in a news release Tuesday. “These are official monitors, carefully calibrated within a range set by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. They monitor air quality 24/7 and send alerts by email if there are any emissions outside the approved range. They continue to operate correctly.”
The statement noted that INEOS “responded immediately to these concerns the week of April 16, 2024,” including being in contact with Aamjiwnaang and that they are working with the ministry.
“We are very concerned by the reports made by our neighbours at our Sarnia plant in Ontario, Canada,” the company stated. “The Aamjiwnaang First Nation, whose Reservation borders our site, have reported suspected high levels of benzene to the media, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, and the UN.
“We have reviewed all data for the period concerned and we can confirm that our monitors recorded no emissions outside our prescribed limits.”
INEOS added that no one on site has reported feeling unwell and the site continues to be a safe place to work for our employees and contractors.
“The safety of our employees, our contractors and the local community is our highest priority. We have invested over 50 million dollars into our Sarnia site over the past five years, including 4.4 million dollars in benzene emission reduction technology and equipment.”