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Hexion agrees to EPA clean-air order

Release Date: 09/29/2006
Contact Information: William Omohundro, (312) 353-8254, omohundro.william@epa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 06-OPA173

CHICAGO (Sept. 29, 2006) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has issued an administrative consent order to Hexion Specialty Chemicals Inc. that requires the company to install and operate additional emissions monitoring equipment at its chemical manufacturing plant at 400 E. Cottage Ave., Carpentersville, Ill.

The new equipment will continuously monitor a system used to control volatile organic compound emissions. The system must destroy at least 90 percent of VOC emissions from the company's manufacturing process.

The order resolves EPA allegations that Hexion violated its state operating and construction permits and federal and state regulations by improperly operating its VOC controls.

Volatile organic compounds contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, or smog. Smog is formed when a mixture of air pollutants is baked in the hot summer sun. Smog can cause a variety of respiratory problems, including coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest pain. People with asthma, children and the elderly are especially at risk, but these health concerns are important to everyone.

Information on EPA Region 5's air enforcement program is at www.epa.gov/region5/air/enforce/index.html. Potential environmental violations may be reported at www.epa.gov/compliance/complaints.