Document xoQxKb2GLB95vvnyj1RxwvNJ

TO: D. A. Kuhn XF:_A*0 FROM: DATE: nteroffice Communication SUBJ; T. G. Grumbles August 8, 1986 VISTA ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY I would like to proceed with gaining the approvals necessary to publish a Vista environmental policy. As we have discussed, I have had requests from several plants to do this, and it is certainly consistent with the company values statement and recent quality program. The addition of Item 7 on the attached is necessary for many reasons including those below: 1. Tort liability 2. RCRA liability 3. Strict productliability 4. This is becoming industry practice 5. Vista is seeing clauses in our purchase contracts that verify other manufacturers practices in this area. We can discuss these reasons if you wish. The plant environmental directors have reviewed the policy and approved. Please let me know how to proceed. Crv-v----- ----Thomas G. Grumbles ajo/9 Attachment VVV 0G0015398 VISTA ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY 1 Comply fully with all environ mental laws and regulations related to environmental quality in all ofits activities. The Company's activities have an impact on the environment in which it operates - the Company shall conduct all op erations in a lawful and envi ronmentally "responsible man ner. Specifically, the Company shall: - 2 Routinely review its products, pro cesses and control facilities as new information becomes available to improve environmental quality be- - yond what is legally required, __ where such improvements bear a ; .reasonable relationship to their - ~ costs. '....I..: .... " ^ "i ;--:- 3 Maintain an pnvimnmprrta] quality - assurance program to ensure that operations are in compliance with Vista Chemical's policies, permit - L limitations, and other regulatory - -requirements. -- pQ* 4 Determine that each new'existing product can be made, used, handled, and disposed of safely with ade quate environmental and public - health protection. - ` _ 5 Minimize waste generation and ds- . pose of it using practices that pro- : tect the environment and jublic^jT' health. " - ' ^ ' _ VVV 000015399 6 Inform employees, customers, carri- .. .. ers, contractors, government agen cies, and the public of the health or environmental hazards of the chemicals it makes, uses, or sells. 1 Lo I li Do ^ ..............................c- . r' r . ^ <>12,11 'pSoDjC-t- .. ,v,-N A ? . Y*--i- FILE teroffic* mmuniceHon from: Date: Subject: R. A* Frohreich August 11, 1986 SUPERFUND REPORTING' VISTA Ar 1 p-,*, August 8, 1086, I called the National Respuuse Center (1-800-424-8802) to report a vinyl chloride release* Petty Officer Wallace accepted the call. He asked for my name, name of the company, and the location and phone number of the company. He asked the time and date of the release. I responded it was at 1Q,30 aim, on August 8* 1966, lie asked if Hie ialeaye way lu the atmosphere and I replied yes. He asked the size of the relief and I told him fifty pounds, He asked the cause of the release and I told him a valve on a polymerization reactor containing vinyl chloride opened when It hn1d nn* have and allowed vinyl chloride to enter another reactor which was open to the atmosphere. He asked what was done to atop the release and I told him the valves on the reactors were closed. I told him the duration of the release was only four to five seconds. He asked if I had informed the State and I told him I was going to call them as soon as I hung up. At lj?6 p.a. on August 8, 1986, I called for Jerry Banks of the Mississippi Bureau of Pollution Control to inform him of the incident. Mr, Banks was out of the office ana Dwight Wylie accepted the call. I related the details of the incident to him. My Wylie asked if I normally followed a phone report such as this with a letter. I told him no and that the call was just to advise Mi. Banks uf thy incident and thAS be aware of it in case he received a call from Atlanta. He aaid he would pass the luruftiiiuLitm tm te Kr* Biliks and Jerry wuulU call If ha had any questions. R. A. Frohreich director of Environmental Control rah cc: JF, JWW, DWH, VEM, JCL, WLM, TGG Vista Chemical Company 15990 N. Barter's Landing Rd. Post Office Box 19029 Houston,Texas 77224 Phone 1713) 5313200 Tfifi; d$m : (S) XF: August 8, 1986 Mr. B. I. Raffle Supervising Counsel Environmental & Engineering Group Conoco Legal Department P.0. Box 2197 Houston, TX 77252 Certified Mail Return Receipt Requested ViSTA Mr. E, J. Neeld Director, Environmental Programs Environmental Conservation Conoco Inc. P.0. Box 2197 Houston, TX 77252 Certified Mail Return Receipt Requested RE: U.S. v. Conoco Gentlemen: Pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of July 20, 1984, among E.I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company, Conoco Inc., and Vista Chemical Company, and the Consent Decree entered in the above action, we hereby provide notice of recently-discovered information which may lead to the filing of an Environmental Claim. On August 8, 1986, the Vista Aberdeen Plant experienced a superfund release which resulted in VC emissions. A transcript of the call to the NRC is attached. Please contact me if you have any questions regarding this matter. Sincerely, Thomas G. Grumbles, C.I.H. Environmental Quality Manager ajo/9 cc W. L. McClain John Friend VVV 000015401