Document DDoQ3VDD9onVogR42MnL9evk4

*\ IMMEDIATELY Loren Wassell (314)674-7002 SOLUTIA TO LEAD EFFORT TO ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL, OTHER ISSUES IN CAHOKIA, SAUGET AREA CAHOKIA, Illinois, January 12,1999 -- Solutia Inc. plans to lead an effort to address environmental and other issues in the Cahokia and Sauget area where the company has a manufacturing plant. . "We want to work with our community neighbors, government agencies and other companies to make things happen," said Mike Pierle, Solutia's vice president for environment, safety and health. "We hope to build a broad consensus that can respond to broader needs." The environmental project will address long-standing concerns along nearly four miles of Dead Creek. The effort also will look for answers to infrastructure needs, such as storm drainage and roads, to benefit current residents as well as potentially encourage economic development. "We have been discussing this project with local officials as well as with the state and federal environmental agencies," Pierle said. "None of.us can address all of the needs alone, but a broad, collective effort can make much more progress than separate, scattered activities." Target area for the project is along nearly four miles of Dead Creek, extending south from the Cerro Copper plant in Sauget through Cahokia to a wetland area near the Mississippi River. The creek was named by Cahokia native Americans for its lack of flow; it has also been called Quail Run because its standing water attracts birds. In addition to the creek itself, several OSW .141849 PCB-ARCH-EXT0381773 -\ adjacent sites, including former landfill areas, are included. - more - Solutia has agreed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to conduct a study on environmental remediation that may be needed for the creek and related sites. Solutia was the only one of 25 organizations notified by the EPA to agree to perform the work. However, Solutia hopes to facilitate more than that study and subsequent cleanup work. The company also plans to work with.Cahokia and Sauget to identify infrastructure needs that could be addressed in connection with the environmental work. Efforts also are under way to identify potential economic development that could be aided by the infrastructure work. "As a new company, we are committed to being a responsible member of the communities where we do business and we look forward to being a catalyst for positive activity here in our neighborhood," Pierle said. . "We look for other local industry to join this effort as well.," Pierle said. "We want to do our part, but others share responsibility for the environmental issues and we look forward to enlisting their participation." .. _ . Cahokia, IL Jan. 12,1999 - -0O0- DSW 141850 PCB-ARCH-EXT0381774