Document byzmy6Bg8K64yRQva3K3Vxkn1

SARA Communications Plan Updated May 189 1988 Page 5 QUESTIONS - APRIL 7,1988 1. WE ARE NOT PAID ENOUGH TO COMPENSATE FOR HANDLING HAZARD OUS CHEMICALS? We believe that working conditions In our plant are safe. We also believe that our pay scale Is very good. 2. HOW SERIOUS ARE EXPOSURES TO VCM AND CHLORINE? VCM Is covered In the presentation. Chlorine Is very dangerous. 3. HAVE YOU DONE ANY MONITORING IN THE COMMUNITY FOR VCM OR OTHER HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS? WHY NOT? There Is no monitoring In the community for any hazardous chemicals. Plant air is sampled continuously at 40 points, When the concentration is above 1 part per million, employees required to leave or put on breathing protection. 4. WHAT IS THE STEAM THAT COMES FROM THE PLANT? Steam comes continuously from fluid bed dryers. This steam has a small amount of PVC particulates In It and small amounts of VCM. There Is also a continuous flow of steam from the blend tanks. This is where the majority of VCM to the atmosphere comes from. A large amount of steam comes from the reactor evacuation jets on an Intermittent basis. These jets use steam to pull a vacuum on the reactors prior to charging. This steam contains some VCM that is present after stripping the PVC resin. 5. WHAT IS IN THE WATER THAT COMES FROM THE PLANT? Organics from the plant enter the waste treatment system where they are biologically degraded. The water that leaves the plant has a small amount of organic materials still in it. This averages about 30% of the allowable organics as specified in the waste water permit. The plant also measures three other materials on a quarterly basis. These are VCM and two compounds from the plasticizer operation. These have averaged ____ parts per billion in the past ____ months. 6. ARE YOU POLLUTING THE GROUNDWATER? We have measured the water pulled from directly below the plant. Through very sensitive measurement techniques, we have not detected any chemicals produced In the plant. 7. WHAT IS BURIED AT YOUR PLANT? We have knowledge of several places at the plant where organic wastes from, the plasticizer operation were burled in the past. These have been reported to tne EPA and to the State. We also have places where waste PVC resin is buried at the plant. VAB.0001002585 SARA Communications Plan Updated May 18, 1988 Page 6 8. WHAT DO YOU SEND TO THE LANDFILL? We send normal plant trash to the Monroe County Landfill. There is some residual antimony, barium, and lead on the bags that go to the landfill* 9. WHY DO YOU SEND LEAD TO THE LANDFILL? The plant has sent empty bags that contained lead materials to the sanitary landfill in the past. 10. HOW MANY PEOPLE IN YOUR PLANT HAVE CANCER? HOW DOES THIS RATE COMPARE TO THE NORMAL POPULATION? No one in the plant has ever had anglocarcoma which is a rare cancer that has been linked to VCM exposure. 11. WHAT ABOUT THE VCM RELEASE IN NOVEMBER? DID YOU EVACUATE ANYONE? WHERE DID THE VCM GO? DID YOU REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY? WAS ANYONE EXPOSED? DID YOU REPORT IT TO THE POLICE? 12. HOW ABOUT THE TANK CAR EMERGENCY? 13. HAVE YOU EVER HAD ANY FIRES OR EXPLOSIONS? 14. HAVE YOUR EMPLOYEES EVER BEEN EXPOSED TO VCM? We monitor employees for exposure to VCM. We collect data and a summary is available upon request. 15. WHY DON'T YOU CLEAN UP YOUR OPERATION? We think we have a "clean" operation. We are working to reduce problems as we told you in the presentation. 16. YOU MEAN YOU RELEASE CANCER CAUSING CHEMICALS TO THE ATMOSPHERE? Given in presentation. 17. WHY IS YOUR PLANT SO NOISY? We think that it is too noisy also and are working to reduce the noise levels. SARA Communications Plan Updated May 18, 1988 Page 7 18. HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU MAKE? WHY DON'T YOU USE MORE OF YOUR PROFITS TO MAKE THE ENVIRONMENT SAFER? Our profits are public and are given in quarterly/yearly earnings reports. We have spent about $ 20MM since 1975 on environmental items. 19. WHY CAN'T YOU HAVE A NO EMISSION PLANT? This is certainly a goal worth working towards. This goal cannot be accomplished using current technology. 20. DO YOU INSPECT ALL YOUR LINES AND TANKS SO THEY DON'T FAIL? An inspection of plant tanks and lines is done yearly to detect any corrosion or other problems. 21. HOW MANY LEAKS DO YOU HAVE? The definition of a leak, according to the EPA, is at a much higher level than we take action. We have very few EPA defined leaks because we take corrective action at a much lower level. 22. HOW DO YOU KNOW YOUR OPERATORS DON'T SLEEP AT NIGHT CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION? The VCM operating area is manned around the clock by several people. Because of cross training, there are several people on a shift that can do a particular job. Also, critical processes have alarms if they go outside normal limits. With several trained people always present and the extensive Instrumentation and alarms a dangerous situation developing without anyone knowing it is unlikely. 23. DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE ON NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS TO HANDLE EMERGENCIES? Shifts are trained to respond to emergencies. If the emergency is large, they are Instructed to call for help. 24. WHAT IS THAT SMELL I SOMETIMES SMELL? The next time you smell it, please call us and we'll Investigate. 25. WHAT DO I DO IF THERE IS A GAS LEAK AT YOUR PLANT? If there should be a leak that affects people living outside the plant, the police will be notified. They will notify you to evacuate and give you other instructions. h VAB.0001002587 SARA Communications Flan Updated May 18, 1988 Page f* HAVE CHLORINE AT YOUR PLANT? SAFE? We have one 2000 pound cylinder of chlorine and several cylinders the size of welding cylinders. Chlorine ia a dangerous chemical and is handled with great respect and care. WHY IS THERE WHITE POWDER ON MY SCRATCH OR HURT THE PAINT ON MY WHAT DO I DO ABOUT WILL IT The white powder is normally PV should wash it off with a hose, cause any damage to your car. resin. It is not dangerous. You It is not abrasive and should not HOW DO WE KNOW YOU AREN'T POLLUTING THE DRINKING WATER? We have taken samples of groundwater and haven't found even a trace of the chemicals we produce. WHO DO I CALL IF THERE IS A PROBLEM? Call the main plant number and tell the guard about your complaint. A Vista representative will get back to you. WHY DO THE EMPLOYEES AT VISTA FEEL LIKE THEY NEED A UNION? This is a question that you should ask our employees. 31. DOES VCM CAUSE MISCARRIAGES? HAVE ANY OF YOUR EMPLOYEES HAD A MISCARRIAGE? Early or preliminary studies of offspring by some Investigators have suggested that VCM causes birth defects and miscarriages. However, acutal review and subsequent research have shown that there is no basis for such fear. 32. DO YOU HAVE EMERGENCY DRILLS? The plant has emergency drills periodically to test the preparedness of our employees. We learn and improve from these drills. WHERE DOES ALL THE VCM GO THAT YOU RELEASE FROM YOUR PLANT? We have a study done by a consultant that shows dispersion of the VCM. This study can be made available upon request. 34. WHAT ARE THE TOXIC CHEMICALS USED AT YOUR PLANT? This is given in the presentation. I- SARA Communications Plan Updated May 18,1988 Page 9 35. WHY DO YOU HAVE THIS PLANT AT ABERDEEN? The plant was originally built here by the Fain Family. We do not know all of the reasons. Vista purchased the plant from DuPont in 1984. 36. DO YOU GENERATE HAZARDOUS WASTES? Given in presentation. 37. WHY DON'T YOU JUST BUY UP ALL THE LAND AROUND YOU? We have bought much of the land surrounding the plant. 38. DOES THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND THE CHEMICALS WE USE AND HEALTH EFFECTS ? We have two local doctors who are familiar with our plant and the chemicals. We are planning an open house for others later in 1988. 39. ARE EMPLOYEES ADEQUATELY TRAINED TO HANDLE EMERGENCIES? Empolyees are trained in emergency evacuation, fire protection and first aid. Refresher courses are also periodically given. 40. ARE WE PROTECTED AGAINST CRAZY PEOPLE WHO MIGHT SABBOTAGE THE PLANT? The plant Is manned on a 24 hour basis and has a guard present all the time. The plant also has a fence around the property. 41. WHEN THE HORNS GO OFF, DOES IT MEAN THE PLANT IS ABOUT TO BLOW UP? There is a horn on our catalyst freezer which sounds when it gets above a certain temperature. We are investigating alternatives to have the alarm sound in the control room and eliminate the horn. A VAB.0001002589 SARA Communications Plan Updated May 18, 1988 Page 10 42. WILL WE HAVE A BOPAL LIKE DISASTER IN ABERDEEN? 43. DOES YOUR WATER HURT THE FISHING? Covered In presentation. 44. WHAT IS ALL THE STUFF IN THOSE DUMPSTERS? See question #8. 45. DO HEALTH PHYSICALS SHOW A TREND OF PROBLEMS? 46. HOW WILL I BE NOTIFIED IN A CHEMICAL EMERGENCY? See question #25. 47. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GET TO ZERO EMISSIONS? HOW MUCH DO YOU NOW SPEND TO REDUCE EMISSIONS? See questions #18 and #19. 48. WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US SOONER? We should have. We'll tell you from now on. 49. HOW MANY VIOLATIONS HAVE YOU HAD IN THE PAST? HOW MANY FINES HAVE YOU PAID? Conoco was sued by the EPA In 1984 for releases of vinyl chloride. Vista intervened in the case to settle it. Vista (Aberdeen) has had one $2000 fine for releases of Vinyl Chloride in 198_. We also paid a $_____ fine in 198__ for not having proper labels on a truck. 50. IF YOUR CHEMICALS ARE SO SAFE, WHY DO MOST OF YOUR EMPLOYEES LIVE SO FAR FROM THE PLANT? Many employees live near the plant. Where employees live is their choice, not ours. 51. WHAT ARE THE SAFE LEVELS FOR THESE CHEMICALS? Risk factors are given in the presentation. If you want to know mit ore about the risk factors, we can give you that information. 4 SARA CommunlcatioiiB Plan Updated May 18, 1988 Page 11 52. HOW DO YOU KNOW IT IS SAFE? The risk factors are from the EPA. We believe that they are larger than the actual risk. 53. WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO STOP EMISSIONS? We have reduced emissions as we have told you In the predoBftation. We are in compliance with federal and state regulations. As part of our philosophy of continual improvement, we are looking at ways to reduce VCM emissions. 54. WHAT ARE THE LONG TERM HEALTH EFFECTS OF LIVING NEXT TO YOUR PLANT? These are covered in the risk factors given to you. 55. HOW ARE THE CHEMICALS SHIPPED IN AND OUT OF YOUR PLANT? IS THIS SAFE? Vinyl Chloride is shipped to the plant by rail. Other chemicals come by truck. 56. WHAT HAPPENS TO THE VCM? DOES IT COME DOWN? DOES IT COLLECT IN THE ATMOSPHERE? See question #33. VAB.0001002591