The first phase of Ineos’s benzene removal plan will get underway shortly. A nearby First nation says it’s “environmental justice”
The plant has been shut down since mid-April. Ineos decided to temporarily close the plant after air quality monitors showed heightened levels of benzene and members of Aamjiwnaang First Nation became sick. Ineos said in an alert to the community that modelling confirms there is "no anticipated off-site impact above new regulatory/health-based limits during this phase of the plan."
While Aamjiwnaang council usually only shuts down its offices if benzene levels reach 27 micrograms per cubic metre of air, council closed the offices on Friday as a preventative measure. Nahmabian says council has weekly meetings with Ineos and she's grateful for what she says is increased communication between the company and her community.Benzene created at refineries in Sarnia-Lambton is transferred to Ineos by pipeline and stored in tanks that sit across the road from Aamjiwnaang's band offices and baseball diamonds. Ineos would then process the benzene into styrene, which is used in plastic parts for the medical and automotive industries.
"The concern is that decisions are being made and regulations are being changed without a full consultation and analysis of the entire system," said McEachran.