July 2, 2007
AUSTIN, TX – Texas Chemical Council (TCC) and Association of Chemical Industry of Texas (ACIT) honored four chemical plants with the TCC “Excellence in Caring for Texas” Award and Honorable Mentions at the TCC/ACIT Awards Banquet at the Moody Gardens Hotel and Convention Center in Galveston.
“Excellence in Caring for Texas” Winners
Rohm and Haas Chemicals Inc. in Bayport
DuPont Company in Corpus Christi
Huntsman Polymers Corporation in Odessa
Eastman Chemical Company, Texas Operations in Longview
Honorable Mentions
ExxonMobil Chemical Company in Mont Belvieu
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company in Sweeny
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company in Cedar Bayou
The TCC’s “Excellence in Caring for Texas” Award is given annually to recognize top chemical manufacturing facilities across the state that demonstrate continuous improvement to their performance in community awareness, emergency response, security and pollution prevention. The program, adopted by the TCC Board of Directors in October 1998, provides recognition for TCC member facilities that, during the previous calendar year, have achieved exemplary results and demonstrated commitment to their employees and their community.
Community Awareness, Emergency Response (CAER), Pollution Prevention and Security are part of the American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) Responsible Care Management System® (RCMS®) and the Synthetic Organic Manufacturers Association’s (SOCMA) Environmental, Health, Safety and Security Management System. TCC supports ACC’s Responsible Care® and SOCMA’s ChemStewardSM programs and encourages those initiatives by all of its member companies. Therefore, TCC seeks to recognize companies that have achieved the intent of the RCMS and ChemSteward.
Rohm and Haas Chemical Company in Bayport received the “Excellence in Caring for Texas” Award for facility size of 1-60 employees. In 1990, the plant set up an endowment the University of Houston – Clear Lake for the purposes of helping students pursue environmental studies. Today the value of the endowment is more than $14,000. During 2006 the University of Houston – Clear Lake continued awarding funds from the endowment, totaling approximately $800 in scholarships. Rohm and Haas Chemical Company in Bayport received the “Excellence in Caring for Texas” for their commitment in 2005. The facility manager is Rick Ewan.
Rick Roberts of Chevron Philips Chemical Company and Rick Ewan of Rohm and Haas Chemical Company.
DuPont Chemical Company in Corpus Christi received the “Excellence in Caring for Texas” Award for facility size of 61-200 employees. In 2006, the site worked with local advocates from the environmental community and facilitated tours and open dialogue to address local concerns. DuPont’s Corpus Christi facility has been rewarded with the Honorable Mention recognition for the past two years. The facility manager is Timothy McDaniel. 
Tim McDaniel, Rick Roberts of Chevron Phillips, Jaime Pena and Bob Blaschke of DuPont Corpus Christi
Huntsman Polymers Corporation in Odessa received the TCC “Excellence in Caring for Texas” Award for facility size of 201-500 employees. The facility’s continued commitments include reduction of air emissions of volatile organic chemicals and nitrogen oxides, reduction in waste disposal and reduction in the number of agency reportable releases. The facility develops environmental improvement plans (EIP) and data is analyzed to establish well defined and measurable targets and plans detailing how the targets will be achieved. Environmental release and excursion data (e.g., Title V deviations) are included in the in-depth analysis to establish the goals and targets that will lead to reductions in emissions and improve overall environmental performance. In 2006, all environmental targets were met, including a greater than 50 percent reduction in agency reportable events and a greater than 20 percent reduction in overall environmental excursions. The Huntsman Odessa facility has won the “Excellence in Caring for Texas” Award both in 2003 and 2004. The facility manager is Alan Hill.
Rick Roberts with Alan Hill and Steve Melton of Huntsman Odessa
Eastman Chemical Company, Texas Operations in Longview received the TCC “Excellence in Caring for Texas” Award for facility size of 501+ employees. James Ray, the site’s Vice President/General Manager maintains an active dialogue with all employees through daily email Safety Updates. He holds quarterly meetings with department individuals to answer any questions they may have and as an information sharing opportunity. In 2006, he met with over 235 employees. Eastman participates in a variety of other community relations including a company-wide Employee Communications Advisory Committee (ECAC), a company-wide Community Advisory Panel (CAP) Facilitator network and through the company Internet and Intranet. The site’s Responsible Care Management System (RCMS) matrix is available to all employees via the company intranet and includes all the ways they communicate to stakeholders.
Rick Roberts with Michelle Holyfield and James Ray of Eastman Chemical Company, Texas Operations.
ExxonMobil Chemical Company in Mont Belvieu received the Honorable Mention recognition for facility size of 61-200 employees. The Mont Belvieu’s emergency response program has improved with the onset of an aggressive certification program for the emergency response teams. The facility’s Emergency Response Coordinator initiated a plan to consistently prove compliance with government agency requirements in the demonstration of emergency responder competency. The goal was to provide training and certification based on national standards utilizing a set of performance base standards. The response teams have acquired 205 certifications in all disciplines of emergency response including fire, medical, rescue and hazmat. This certification is now a best practice within the company. The facility manager is Laura Krause.
Rick Roberts and Sherman Hampton of ExxonMobil Chemical Company, Mont Belvieu
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company in Sweeny received Honorable Mention recognition for facility size of 201-500 employees. Beginning in 2005, the plant voluntarily reviewed recycling facilities to assist in the determination and goal of recycling wastes. In 2006, the facility was able to send the majority of its Class I non-hazardous waste to a recycling facility. This resulted in a 94 percent reduction in waste disposal for the facility. The impact of removing over one million pounds of non-hazardous material consisting of coke fines, soil, sandblast media, concrete, refractory brick, etc. from landfills was viewed as a success towards the facility’s environmental improvement goals. The facility manager is Charleen Dickson.
Brian Baca, Patricia DeWoody, Rick Roberts Charleen Dickson, Ralph Edwards and Earl Hassell of Chevron Phillips, Sweeny.
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company in Cedar Bayou received the Honorable Mention recognition for facility size of 501+ employees. The plant was the original “Partners-in-Education” with Goose Creek Independent School District through a program sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. Over the past 18 years, their partnership with Crockett Elementary has grown to include support in all aspects of campus life – with students, faculty and parents. Sixty-four employees provided over 750 volunteer hours. The 2006 school year began with an effort to provide basic school supplies to every student in grades 1-5. Other activities throughout the year included “Family Math and Science Night” and “Engineering Week” where visitations to each class included talking with students about the rewards of science and engineering. End of the year activities included “Perfect Attendance” Awards and an “Ice Cream Social” to reward students for successful completion of standardized testing activities. “Red Ribbon Week” was also supported by giving red wrist bands to students, teachers and staff to highlight drug abuse prevention. The facility manager is Dan Coombs.
Larry Ashley, Bernadette Bird, Rick Roberts, Bob Ager, Raymond Tyler, Gary Girard, Dan Coombs, Juan Hinojosa and Mike Catt of Chevron Phillips Cedar Bayou
The TCC “Caring for Texas” award program is maintained by the Outreach Committee and is based on strict criteria. Members from the committee and the outside community are involved in the judging process.
Contact: TCC Communications Director (512) 646-6407