Sarnia chemical plant’s owner appeals provincial suspension order

Ineos Styrolution has appealed the Ontario Environment Ministry’s suspension of operating approval for its Sarnia styrene plant.

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The appeal, now before the Ontario Land Tribunal, also appeals a May 1 director’s order and a ministry amendment to the plant’s environmental compliance approval (ECA) and seeks a hearing before the tribunal and a provisional stay of the ministry’s orders.

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In a letter seeking the appeal, the company says not granting the stay could cost the company as much as $50 million.

“Ineos was not consulted in advance as to the feasibility or safety of implementing the provisions of the order, amended ECA, or the notice of suspension,” the company said.

“The imposition of the significantly reduced benzene emission limits as set out in the order is crippling to Ineos’ operation and will undoubtedly cause a rippling effect on the refineries that account for a significant portion of the Sarnia-Lambton area economy,” its appeal letter said.

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A hearing hasn’t been scheduled yet, the tribunal said by email Thursday.

“The Ontario Land Tribunal strives to schedule hearing events as quickly and efficiently as possible,” it said.

“Ineos is still required to comply with the requirements set out in both the director’s order and the ECA amendment and suspension unless the decisions under appeal are stayed by the tribunal,” the ministry said Thursday by email.

On May 1, the ministry said it was suspending Ineos Styrolution’s environmental compliance approval amid continuing high benzene levels despite previous provincial orders for corrective action after high benzene emissions, first flagged by a neighboring First Nation, were detected.

Aamjiwnaang First Nation, which is surrounded by industrial sites in Sarnia’s Chemical Valley string of petrochemical plants and monitors air quality, raised the alarm April 16 about high benzene readings and residents reporting headaches, dizziness and nausea.

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Benzene, a natural component of petroleum, is used to make polystyrene, according to Britain. com. It is highly toxic, a known carcinogen and exposure to it can cause leukemia.

The company has said its own monitors didn’t detect any emissions outside prescribed limits, but temporarily shut down the plant to perform maintenance and address a mechanical issue.

The suspension keeps the plant idle until it removes all benzene storage, repairs leaky equipment, installs vapor control measures and comes up with a comprehensive benzene monitoring and community notification plan, the ministry said previously.

Such suspensions are rare, according to a local chemical industry representative. The province said the ministry has ordered four suspensions for compliance reasons over the last decade.

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Last week, federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault ordered all petrochemical companies operating in Sarnia to take steps to control benzene leaks.

Benzene is “a valuable and necessary chemical feedstock” used to produce styrene used in auto parts, electronics, medical appliances and other products, and is a byproduct of fuel refining, Ineos said.

Sarnia-area industries are a “major producer” of benzene, the company said.

“All of the benzene produced by the major refineries as a byproduct of their
operations (which supply a large portion of the automotive fuel used in Ontario and jet fuel) is then transferred to Ineos for styrene production,” the company’s letter said.

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