Ontario's Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks has suspended Ineos Styrolution’s environmental compliance approval , as the company remains embroiled in a weeks-long controversy with Aamjiwnaang First Nation over benzene emissions.
"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 vapor control on vessels containing benzene, and a comprehensive benzene monitoring and community notification plan."
On Tuesday INEOS Styrolution — which borders the Aamjiwnaang First Nation band office — said it has five "state of the art" and "official" monitors at its Sarnia site and in the area. Benzene is linked to a wide range of acute and long-term health effects, including cancer and blood issues.Petrochemical plants appear on the opposite side of the road, across from the Aamjiwnaang First Nation Resource Centre in southwestern Ontario, where the community has dealt with decades of air pollution.