All environment News

FROM THE ST CLAIR REGION CONSERVATION AUTHORITY Highlights: ·         20-25mm of rain ·         Thunderstorm risk ·         Water levels will react more quickly with increased runoff ·         Saturated soils, ponding and flooding in floodplain areas Message: Heavy rain expected this afternoon and into this evening Environment Canada is tracking a cold front that has the potential of producing scattered thunderstorms this

INEOS Styrolution is asking for more time to remove benzene from its Sarnia site, saying saying safety not speed is important. May 1 – 15 days after high levels of benzene in the air sickened members of the the Aamjiwnaang First Nation – the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, pulled the company’s Environmental Compliance Approval certificate shutting the

FROM THE ST CLAIR REGION CONSERVATION AUTHORITY Highlights: Environment Canada is tracking a severe thunderstorm capable of producing heavy rain this evening and into the early overnight hours. Forecasts predict rainfall amounts of 20 to 25 mm, with the potential for higher precipitation amounts in localized areas. Precipitation amounts across the watershed have been between 30 to 45 mm in

INEOS Styrolutions has appeal the Ministry of Environment’s orders which shut the Sarnia plant down calling it “crippling.” And it wants the Ontario Land Tribunal to put the order on hold – effectively allowing INEOS to begin production again – while the legal arguments are heard. May 1 – 15 days after high levels of benzene in the air sickened

The federal government is tightening controls on storage tanks in the wake of high benzene emissions in Sarnia. Canada’s Environment Minister says companies which have emitted benzene in Sarnia and the Aamjiwnaang First Nation will have to “implement vapour-control measures, including fully closed vent systems with vapour control” on benzene storage tanks. Environment Canada officials met with the members of

Blake Ellis/The Independent Grade 5 students Sophie Brandt, left, and Scarlett Arseneault of Holy Rosary Catholic School plant a tree on Thursday, as part of the Wilpstra Park Urban Forest Project in Wyoming. Plympton-Wyoming s working with Climate Action Sarnia-Lambton on the reforestation and naturalization plan, which encompasses the tree planting at Wilpstra Park. 

Incident raises concerns for York1 proposal: Jakubec Heather Wright/The Independent © The former owner of the Dresden dump has been fined over $65,000 for leachate caused by dumping waste from a cannabis greenhouse at the site before it was sold to York1 Environmental Services. And one environmental activist is sounding the alarm bells about what this could mean for the

The head of INEOS Styrolutions wants to meet with Ontario’s environment minister saying the “newly imposed” benzene standards are “impossible to meet.” In a three page letter, Pierre Minguet, president of operations at INEOS Styrolutions, lays out his concerns, including confusion on whether the company should be following the ministry standards or standards set by the Aamjiwnaang First Nation. “The

Says closure could affect gas production in Eastern Canada INEOS Styrolutions says the Ministry of the Environment’s time table for action to deal with benzene emissions at its Sarnia plant are “simply unrealistic” and is considering an appeal. And the company says it’s shutdown could have wider economic impact than just at the plant. Styrolutions was shutdown by the Ministry

The Ministry of the Environment has effectively shut down INEOS Styrolutions forcing it to deal with the ongoing release of benzene at the Sarnia plant. The Ministry has pulled it’s Environmental Compliance Approval certificate which the company needs to operate. Aamjiwnaang First Nation Chief Chris Plain first called for the plant across the road from the band office to be

Heather Wright/The Independent “Our monitors recorded no emissions outside our prescribed limits.” That from INEOS Styrolutions late Tuesday after meeting with members of the Aamjiwnaang First Nation Band Council. The band declared a state of emergency April 25 after air quality monitors detected high levels of benzene in the air around the band office for the second time in two

Aamjiwnaang First Nation has declared a local state of emergency as air quality monitoring station register benzene levels even higher than last week. April 16, a number of members of the community sought treatment after suffering from nausea and headaches when the air quality monitors near the community’s administration office registered 115 parts per billion of benzene. At noon today,