[StBernard] Louisiana industrial sites declared ‘Ready for Reuse’

[Westley Annis]

 (Dallas, Texas – January 24, 2007)  Today the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and the Louisiana Department of Environmental
Quality (LDEQ) issued “ready for reuse” determinations to two Louisiana
facilities, CS Metals of Louisiana, LLC, and Syngenta Crop Protection,
Inc.

The “ready for reuse” determinations verify that environmental
conditions at the properties are protective of human health and the
environment for their current and future commercial and industrial uses.

“EPA and LDEQ are committed to turning problem properties back into
community and economic assets,” said EPA Regional Administrator Richard
E. Greene said.  “Cleaning up past contamination clears the way so that
businesses and neighborhoods can make the most of future opportunities.”

A “ready for reuse” determination provides, in a straightforward manner,
specific information about a site, including the nature and extent of
contamination, the cleanup work performed, and the status of the
property with respect to federal and state requirements.

The LDEQ has championed the “ready for reuse” determination as a vehicle
to encourage prompt, protective cleanup and reuse of previously
contaminated sites.  “It is an honor to add these two companies to the
growing list of other facilities in Louisiana that have successfully
participated in and completed this joint state and federal Ready for
Reuse Program,” said LDEQ Deputy Secretary Karen Gautreaux.  “We have
made the Ready for Reuse Program an integral part of our remediation
process to achieve productive economic and environmental benefits.
Louisiana and DEQ are leaders in this innovative program.  Today is an
example of why.  We are recognizing two local companies that have, by
their cooperation and participation with DEQ and EPA, given old
industrial sites new life under the land revitalization program.”

CS Metals of Louisiana, LLC, formerly operated a 52-acre metals recovery
facility in Convent, La.  The facility was used to recover elemental
metals from used catalyst from the refining and petrochemical
industries.  The facility ceased operations in 2004.  In October 2006,
CS Metals completed an accelerated closure and cleanup effort for the
facility under LDEQ’s Voluntary Remediation Program.  The property will
soon be transferred to its former owner, Occidental Chemical
Corporation, for continued industrial use.

Syngenta Crop Protection’s St. Gabriel, La., facility manufactures and
formulates pesticides and specialty chemicals.  “Ready for reuse”
determinations were issued for two parcels on the facility where former
effluent impoundments were located.  Syngenta successfully completed
closure and post-closure activities on these parcels and constructed a
calcium chloride production facility on one of them via a joint venture
with EcoProducts Solutions, Inc.  The new facility is designed to
convert approximately 230,000 tons per year of former hazardous waste to
a high demand petroleum production product, and eliminates the discharge
of calcium chloride to the Mississippi River from Syngenta’s permitted
wastewater treatment system.

“The Ready for Reuse Program provided CS Metals the means to accelerate
closure activities for the facility and demonstrate that the property
was ready for future industrial use,” said Kenneth Massett, prior site
manager for CS Metals’ closed Convent facility.  “The accelerated
closure of the facility was necessary to meet contractual requirements
for the sale of the property and to limit CS Metals’ future
environmental liabilities.  The Ready for Reuse Program made it possible
to successfully close the facility and sell the property within two
years of ceasing operations.”

“This land revitalization and waste minimization achievement is just one
of the many pollution prevention and waste minimization initiatives
developed at the site over the years,” said Syngenta plant manager Ralph
Caddell.  “We are proud of our commitment to protect the environment.
This recognition demonstrates that commitment to the community we live
and work in.”

More information on the “ready for reuse” determinations for CS Metals
and Syngenta is available at www.epa.gov/region6/ready4reuse/index.htm
or www.deq.louisiana.gov/portal/tabid/129/Default.aspx.

To learn more about activities in EPA Region 6, please visit
www.epa.gov/region6.

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