Aamjiwnaang First Nation urges calm following state of emergency declaration
First Nation declared state of emergency over ‘excessive’ discharge of benzene from industrial facility
Aamjiwnaang First Nation is urging community members to remain calm after declaring a state of emergency Thursday.
More than a week after shuttering its office saying several people had fallen ill with symptoms including headaches, nausea and dizziness, the First Nation declared a state of emergency over what it calls the "ongoing and excessive" discharge of benzene it says is from a nearby industrial facility.
"Aamjiwnaang members, do not be alarmed at tonight's State of Emergency declaration. This is a formality in a process that allows council to acquire additional resources to assist staff and members," said Chief Chris Plain in a post on Facebook.
"We do understand the seriousness of this incident and recognize the community concerns, as they are all of ours."
The First Nation blames INEOS Styrolution, a plastics chemical plant located in Sarnia, Ont., across the street from the First Nation's office.
Last weekend INEOS announced it would temporarily shut down its facility for maintenance and to address a mechanical issue. The company is facing several orders from the Ministry of Environment related to benzene levels, including an order to have a plan by May 17 for investigating and addressing benzene levels.
The company has been ordered to come up with a procedure by May 3 to immediately notify affected members of the public when benzene discharges exceed certain thresholds.
We knew that an immediate shutdown could result in elevated readings, likely the spikes we are currently experiencing.- Chief Chris Plain, Aamjiwnaang First Nation
CBC News has reached out to the company for comment. When it announced the temporary shutdown, the company said "ensuring the health and safety of our employees and community is paramount."
"We knew that an immediate shutdown could result in elevated readings, likely the spikes we are currently experiencing," Plain's post reads.
"Our staff have amazing scientists and legal advising us and will be analyzing INEOS' plan and continue to monitor for other potential source emitters and make recommendations to council."
The Ministry of Environment said the order was issued to INEOS Styrolution because of concerns about the elevated benzene levels from the plant.
A spokesperson for the ministry said it would monitor compliance and will continue to look at additional steps and compliance actions that may be required.
"The ministry is also working on updates to the benzene technical standards for petrochemical and petroleum facilities, and to strengthen the Environmental Penalties Regulation so that more financial penalties can be imposed," Gary Wheeler wrote in an email to CBC News.
WATCH | Where Aamjiwnaang is compared to a nearby plastic chemical producer:
According to Wheeler, the hourly benzene concentrations from the monitoring station at the First Nation office are posted in near-real-time on the public Clean Air Sarnia and Area (CASA) website, and the Aamjiwnaang First Nation Environment Department received automated notifications of the higher concentrations of benzene in accordance with the ministry and Aamjiwnaang's existing protocols.
The ministry is currently reviewing notification procedures for elevated benzene levels, Wheeler said in response to a question about the lateness of an alert to the community, given that levels have been reportedly spiking since January.
"We are encouraged to see [INEOS Styrolution] taking this matter seriously and will continue working with Aamjiwnaang First Nation to prioritize the health and safety of all residents," the statement reads.
Groups want permanent solution to high benzene levels
On Thursday more than 100 organizations sent a letter to Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, calling for a permanent solution to the high benzene levels affecting Aamjiwnaang First Nation.
The letter noted that as delegates from around the world are meeting in Ottawa to work toward an ambitious global treaty to tackle the plastic pollution crisis, members of the organizations are concerned about the situation in Aamjiwnaang First Nation "[which] is experiencing firsthand the dangerous impacts of pollution from plastic production."
Temporary closures of the immediate sources of benzene are the minimum required to address benzene leaks, they wrote in the letter.
"As host of the fourth round of plastic treaty negotiations, and as a member of the High Ambition Coalition (HAC) that has set a commendable goal of ending plastic pollution by 2040, Canada must act with integrity and set an example on the global stage by taking action to address this environmental emergency and the environmental racism that Aamjiwnaang First Nation has experienced from benzene pollution," the letter reads.
"Failure to act puts at risk Canada's reputation and credibility both domestically and internationally as a leader to address the plastic pollution crisis."
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With files from Jennifer La Grassa