Crompton Corporation (Formerly Witco Corporation)

Letter from Senator John Rockefeller to EPA Administrator Carol Browner

UNITED STATES SENATE
WASHINGTON, DC 20510-4802

November 17, 1995
Dear Administrator Browner:

The purpose of this letter is to make you aware of my strong support for the Project XL proposal submitted by OSi Specialties, Inc. of Sistersville, West Virginia. EPA's approval of OSi Specialties' application is very important to this West Virginia company, and would allow them to more cost-effectively reduce emissions at their facility.

Let me also emphasize my strong support for the common sense goals of Project XL overall, and my optimism about how this approach could help build partnerships bewteen your agency and industry. In President Clinton's own words, Project XL "gives our companies the freedom to meet tough pollution standards in ways that make sense to them, instead of following a government rule book."

In OSi Specialties' Project XL proposal, they show that they can achieve much greater reductions in emissions, at a reduced cost, then by strict compliance with the written regulations. Their data shows that under their Project XL proposal, they can reduce emisions by about 370,000 pounds per year at a cost of about $750,000. In contrast, compliance with the regulations would only reduce emissions by about 85,000 pounds, at a cost of about $5 million. The choice seems clear as to which would be better for both the environment and the company.

As you may know, OSi Specialties is a specialty chemical manufacturer producing many different silicon-based products for use in other manufacturing industries. On numerous occasions, they have shared with me their concerns about regulations that are costly, but which do not seem to match the environmental protection achieved. In our discussions they have emphasized the regulatory effects on their ability to compete with members of their industry overseas, and the need for our country to regulate smarter and more efficiently.

In my view, companies like OSi Specialties are essential, and do the kind of important work that improves our economy and boosts our international competitiveness. Helping them find better ways to meet environmental requirements is enormously important, and would allow them to focus more resources on things like improving their operations or increasing employment.

With this in mind, I urge EPA to approve OSi Specialties' Project XL proposal. Allowing this important company to better focus its resources makes a great deal of sense.

Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter. Should your staff have any questions regarding this matter, please contact Andrew Fields of my office at 224-6472.

Sincerely,

John D. Rockefeller IV

The Honorable Carol M. Browner
Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460

Crompton Corporation (Formerly Witco Corporation)

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