chemicals releases and transfers

OxyChem reports Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pursuant to the requirements of Section 313 of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA).

For 2002 (the most recent report year), total reportable releases and transfers were 5.9 million pounds, or approximately 38 percent less than the prior year. Total releases remain less than 0.4 pound per ton of production, or about two-hundredths of one percent. In 2002, the majority of TRI reportable wastes were incinerated, treated, recycled or burned for energy recovery. The remainder was safely disposed in approved landfill facilities.

OxyChem continuously strives to enhance its overall environmental performance. Every year pollution prevention and emission reduction projects are submitted for consideration for a company award given to plants that have taken proactive and cost-effective steps.

One award recognized work at OxyChem’s VCM plant in LaPorte, Texas where modifications to portions of the reactor and purification systems were made to enhance reliability and production rates. One beneficial outcome of the process modifications occurred in the area of waste generation. After implementing the changes, the plant reduced its generation of coke by about 14 tons and wastewater filter cake by about 880 tons compared to prior years. Also, the enhancements improved plant reliability and reduced the frequency of potential process upsets that could lead to emission events. The project was part of the longer range reliability improvement effort at La Porte which will continue to result in fewer reportable environmental incidents and less waste generation.

A full report of our HES activities is available in our HES Annual Report.

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