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Rubicon LLC Successfully Completes Goal for EPA Partnership Program

Release Date: 02/10/2009
Contact Information: Dave Bary or Anthony Suttice at 214-665-2200 or [email protected]

(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 https://www.epa.gov/npep

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

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