High benzene levels have forced the closure of several buildings at Aamjiwnaang First Nation.
A message Monday morning through the Aamjiwnaang notification system said high benzene levels were reported at the Ada Lockridge and AFN Sportscenter monitoring stations overnight and early this morning.
As a result, buildings in that area including the Aamjiwnaang First Nation Band Office, the blue building, environment building, child and family services building, education administration building, CIDL, Public Works and the church are closed Monday, May 6 and Tuesday, May 7.
Staff are advised to work from home and managers are asked to reach out to staff if you would like them to report to the Community Centre or to another location.
Those in the area on Saturday were advised to monitor for any symptoms.
Early Monday morning, INEOS Styrolution notified the community as a proactive precaution that hourly benzene emissions on site had been detected above 0.021 parts-per million.
Notices were issued through Sarnia Lambton Alerts throughout the day.
A notification sent at 4:10 p.m. said, "INEOS Styrolution continues to investigate benzene emissions observed above 0.007 parts-per million over the last 24 hours."
The company said monitoring data was being verified and the source(s) of elevated emissions were being actively investigated.
INEOS said emissions reduction efforts will be identified and implemented if there is an abnormal operating condition at the site.
Last week the site, which is shutdown for maintenance, was ordered to suspend operations by the province. The company is considering an appeal.
In a statement sent to Sarnia News Today on Monday, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks said it remains concerned about elevated levels of benzene emissions from the Tashmoo Avenue facility.
"Our priority is to protect human health and the environment, and despite several previous Provincial Orders requiring the company to take actions to improve their operations, levels of emissions continue to be too high," read a ministry statement. "We will continue to closely monitor the company’s progress with meeting the requirements of the Provincial Orders, as well as actions required by the amended ECA (Environment Compliance Approval)."
The notice of suspension and notice of amendment has since been posted to the Environmental Registry of Ontario.