Aamjiwnaang First Nation will host a community meeting Thursday evening to discuss INEOS Styrolution's plan to remove benzene from its site on Tashmoo Avenue.
A notice from the First Nation said the company submitted a removal plan on July 24.
"The plan includes two phases and approval was received for Part A from [the] Ministry of the Environment Conservation and Parks on July 25th, 2024," read the community notice. "INEOS incorporated recommendations provided by Aamjiwnaang."
The notice said Part A of the plan is considered to be low-risk.
"Plan A of the plan addresses bulk benzene above the internal floating roof. INEOS refers to this part of the plan as normal operations," read the notice. "Tank movements/transfers associated with Part A of the plan will be communicated and discussed in daily communications with Aamjiwnaang."
Aamjiwnaang Acting Council Chair Janelle Nahmabin told Sarnia News Today, they communicate with INEOS "quite often now."
"It's nice to know that the lines of communication are open between us," she said. "The back-and-forth flow of information is a lot better."
Further details about Plan A were not available. Nahmabin said she will receive further information on Thursday, at which point it will first be communicated to Aamjiwnaang members.
Sarnia News Today has reached out to the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks and INEOS Styrolution for additional details about Plan A.
INEOS responded with notification that was also sent through the Sarnia-Lambton Alerts System shortly after 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
The company said it will begin benzene transfers via pipeline this week.
"Environmental modelling has confirmed there is no anticipated off-site impact above new regulatory/health-based limits during this phase of the plan. While recognizing this activity may result in increased emissions, benzene removal is a requirement of MECP and ECCC (Environment and Climate Change Canada)," read the notification. "INEOS Styrolution remains dedicated to community and personnel safety and will continue to monitor onsite monitors as well as conduct increased handheld monitoring during this phase of the benzene removal plan. We will investigate any potential sources of benzene emissions and communicate additional information as required."
Meanwhile, Nahmabin said consultants, members of their environment department, and herself will be at Thursday's meeting. A representative from the Ministry of the Environment will not be present.
"But we do anticipate an upcoming meeting where we will invite them but for this specific one, it's just for community members," Nahmabin said.
The meeting for Aamjiwnaang members is scheduled to take place from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on August 8 at the Community Centre (Maawn Doosh Gumig) on Virgil Avenue.
INEOS previously announced plans to close its Sarnia site by June 2026, however, the company intends to move forward with an appeal of provincial orders, which forced the facility to suspend operations this past spring. Nahmabin said Aamjiwnaang will be an intervenor in that matter.
Benzene controls were issued by federal and provincial government agencies after Aamjiwnaang First Nation reported that elevated emissions made some members feel ill in April.