[StBernard] Partnerships and Stewardship News Release (Region 6): Rubicon LLC Successfully Completes Goal for EPA Partnership Program

[Westley Annis]

Rubicon LLC Successfully Completes Goal for EPA Partnership Program 

Facility upgrades allow better process controls and reduced waste 

  

(Dallas, Texas - February 10, 2009)  Rubicon LLC, a joint venture between
Huntsman and Chemtura 

Corporation, located in Geismar, Louisiana, is being recognized by the
Environmental Protection Agency for completion of their National Partnership
for Environmental Priorities (NPEP) goal and reducing the quantity of
benzene and aniline incinerated at the facility by 1.2 million pounds.
Rubicon joined the program in 2005 and committed to reduce waste benzene and
aniline used in their polyurethane operations.  

  

NPEP is an EPA program that promotes the voluntary reduction of hazardous
chemicals.  Through work with EPA, both public and private organizations
identify activities that will reduce the use of these chemicals, preventing
their ability to be released into the environment and threaten public
health.  With over 220 partners across the country, the program continues to
promote alternatives to hazardous chemical use, including recycling,
substituting less hazardous alternatives, or reducing the quantities of
these hazardous chemicals being used.  

  

"More and more top facilities are finding smart, simple ways to conduct
business and care for the environment at the same time," said EPA Acting
Regional Administrator Larry Starfield.  "It is even more inspiring when
industry members not only stick with their commitments to the environment,
but expand on them." 

  

Rubicon implemented a waste minimization program in 1995, and since 1997 has
been able to reduce the amount of aniline incinerated at the facility by 48
percent.  The project for NPEP enrollment involved system upgrades that
resulted in 720,000 pounds of aniline reductions and 500,000 pounds of
benzene reductions.  The facility has been active in Louisiana's
Environmental Leadership Program since 1998. 

  

The facility will be recognized during an achievement award presentation by
representatives from EPA and the Louisiana Department of Environmental
Quality at the Geismar Community Center on Wednesday, February 11, 2009. 

  

Additional information on the NPEP program is available at
http://www.epa.gov/npep <http://www.epa.gov/npep>  

  

More about activities in EPA Region 6 is available at
http://www.epa.gov/region6 <http://www.epa.gov/region6>  

  

EPA audio file is available for 30 days at
http://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/audio/htm#audio021009_rubicon
<http://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/audio/htm#audio021009_rubicon>  

  

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