Benzene removal from Sarnia plant complete: Ineos

The removal of benzene from Ineos Styrolution’s Sarnia site is complete, company officials say.

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A destocking plan, developed with Aamjiwnaang First Nation, Ontario’s Environment Ministry and Environment and Climate Change Canada, began Oct. 1 and wrapped up Tuesday, a release said.

“Throughout the process, emissions levels remained predominantly well below the new ultra-low fence-line hourly limit of 90 (micrograms per cubic meter of air), and no hourly readings in the community close to the destocking activities exceeded the Aamjiwnaang First Nation’s self -determined threshold of 27 (mcg/cu. m) per hour,” it said.

Before the process begancompany officials said the plan, mandated by provincial and federal environment ministries, could result in benzene emissions exceeding recently lowered regulatory limits.

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The company announced in late August the sides had resolved Ineos’s appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal over government orders and provincial regulations.

Aamjiwnaang First Nation, which recommended some of its residents evacuate during the removal work, ended a precautionary relocation Oct. 4, and all members returned to the community by Oct. 6, Ineos’s release said.

An Oct. 4 statement from the First Nation said “the concern of the main part of the benzene removal plan from tank 8 is through (and), as the risk has been subsided,” and no more hotel rooms were being booked for temporary evacuations.

“In the unlikely event we will need to initiate an evacuation, we will mobilize and take immediate action,” the statement said, adding appreciation for people’s understanding.

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An earlier statement noted the band office and other government buildings would close Oct. 1-4 as a precaution.

Recently acclaimed Aamjiwnaang chief Janelle Nahmabin did not respond immediately Wednesday to a request for comment.

The Ineos Styrolution Sarnia site has been closed since April, company officials said, when Aamjiwnaang, surrounded by industrial sites in Sarnia’s Chemical Valley, raised the alarm about high benzene readings and residents reporting headaches, dizziness and nausea.

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

Ontario’s Environment Ministry announced in May it was suspending Ineos’s environmental compliance approval amid continuing high benzene levels, despite previous provincial orders for corrective action.

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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 has said.

Also in May, federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault ordered Sarnia-area petrochemical plants with recorded excessive levels of benzene between March 1, 2023, and Feb. 29, 2024, to put in place vapor control measures on benzene storage tanks. The order is for up to two years.

Ineos announced in June it would close the Sarnia plant, which employs 80, plus contractors, for economic reasons by June 2026.

A suspension plan for Ineos, including destocking, was approved Aug. 14.

Ineos said destocking is a routine part of operations at Sarnia-area industries.

“We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and greatly appreciate the patience and understanding of the Sarnia community throughout this necessary process,” its release said.

With files from Paul Morden

[email protected]

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