Sarnia backs Aamjiwnaang in benzene emissions fight

Aamjiwnaang First Nation has the backing of Sarnia city council as it fights to lower benzene emissions affecting its territory.

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Council voted Monday 7-1 in favor of a United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) working group letter, to support the First Nation in lobbying federal and provincial officials “to continue to take necessary steps to ensure that Ineos Styrolution remains shut down until such time as a permanent documented remedy has been implemented,” Coun. Brian White said.

The letter also calls for working with local industrial and municipal partners, he said.

“This is really us just formalizing as a council that we stand by our friends and neighbors in Aamjiwnaang,” White said.

Aamjiwnaang officials called for the Ineos plant in Sarnia to be shut down April 16 when monitors detected benzene spikes and community members reported headaches, nausea and dizziness. The plant produces styrene that is used to make plastic and rubber products.

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A natural component of petroleum, benzene is the simplest organic, aromatic hydrocarbon. It is highly toxic and exposure to it may cause leukemia.

Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) announced Tuesday new benzene emission rules specifically for the Ineos Styrolution plant in Sarnia, limiting one-hour average concentrations in the air to 90 micrograms per cubic meter.

There have been several readings over that level at Aamjiwnaang monitors this spring, including 191 micrograms per cubic meter April 25.

Aamjiwnaang has declared a state of emergency due to what officials have described as “ongoing and excessive” discharges of benzene. Aamjiwnaang has also issued a “notice of violation” against Ineos and provincial Environment Ministry over “alarmingly high” benzene emissions and alleges environmental regulators have not been enforcing air pollution control standards.

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The band’s notice of violation recommends a limit of 5.6 micrograms per cubic meter per hour, and plant shutdowns at 12 micrograms per cubic meter per hour.

“We want to be afforded the basic human right to clean air, along with every other person here in Canada,” said Aamjiwnaang Coun. Janelle Nahmabin in May.

Ontario’s health-based standard, 0.45 micrograms per cubic meteris an annual average, said Tracy Krull with the Bluewater Association for Safety, Environment and Sustainability (BASES).

Ineos officials have pointed out in past statements the company’s Sarnia plant that specializes in converting benzene, a byproduct of gasoline production, into other products is not the only source of benzene emissions in the Sarnia area.

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The chemical company has asked for more time to meet a federal benzene emissions order, and has appealed a provincial suspension order Ontario ministry officials have said keeps the already temporarily closed 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 company remains committed to the health and safety of the community and its employees (and) has always operated within emissions limits set by” Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, company officials said in a June 1 statement

Coun. Bill Dennis cast the lone vote against White’s motion. Coun. Dave Boushy was absent.

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Unnamed Chemical Valley insiders have told him, Dennis said, that “they don’t believe the (benzene) readings were that high at all and they think there’s some politics at hand in this.”

There are concerns the company’s shutdown could affect other companies locally, he said.

If the readings were low, the federal and provincial governments wouldn’t have become involved, Coun. Anne Marie Gillis said, also urging support for Aamjiwnaang.

In Sarnia-area environmental health project report released by the provincial Environment Ministry earlier this year said there is an increased risk of leukemia from benzene levels in the air in some areas of Sarnia and Aamjiwnaang, and recommended Ontario improve regulatory enforcement.

with files from Paul Morden and the Canadian Press

[email protected]

This story has been updated to include more information about benzene limits in Ontario

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