All News Releases By Date

Merisol USA partners with EPA to reduce hazardous chemicals

Release Date: 02/20/2007
Contact Information: Dave Bary or Tressa Tillman at 214-665-2200 or r6press@epa.gov

Houston manufacturer pledges to reduce more than 2 million pounds of pollutants

(Dallas, Texas – February 20, 2007) The Environmental Protection Agency will welcome Merisol USA LLC., as one of the newest partners in its National Partnership for Environmental Priorities during a ceremony Feb. 26 in Houston.

Merisol joined the program by pledging to eliminate a total of 2,391,444 pounds of hazardous chemicals, including 87,652 pounds of dibenzofuran, 1,558,115 pounds of naphthalene, 745,032 pounds of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and 645 pounds of mercury.

“Reducing hazardous materials is both a good environmental and smart business strategy,” said EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene. “By joining this program, Merisol is protecting the environment and reducing the high business costs that come with managing hazardous chemicals."

Merisol has implemented a major process change in its chemical manufacturing that will lead to reductions in hazardous chemicals and odors. The reductions will also make Merisol one of the largest decreasers of hazardous chemicals in EPA Region 6 to join the partnership.

“Partnering with the U.S. EPA and other regulatory agencies is a testimony of Merisol's values and how we choose to do business,” said Merisol Plant Manager Pieter Potgieter. “It demonstrates our commitment to the environment and our community, and it just makes good business sense. These kind of voluntary programs are proactive steps in reducing environmental impacts and thereby improving the long term sustainability of our business.”

The National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP) is a voluntary program in which private and public organizations work with EPA to reduce the use or release of 31 priority chemicals beyond regulatory requirements. These chemicals are long-lasting substances that can build up in the food chain and harm humans and the ecosystem.

Additional information on the NPEP program is available at https://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/minimize/partnership.htm.

To learn more about activities in EPA Region 6, please visit www.epa.gov/region6.