Olin Corp. is evaluating a costly conversion of its Augusta chlorine plant to a cleaner, mercury-free process, according to officials with Georgia's Environmental Protection Division and Gov. Sonny Perdue's office.
The 43-year-old plant in south Richmond County is one of four in the U.S. that would be forced to convert -- or close -- if legislation now working its way through Congress becomes law.
The Mercury Pollution Reduction Act, sponsored by Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., originally required such plants to convert or close by 2013, but a recent amendment could extend the deadline to 2015 for plants that were being converted.
Mr. Perdue -- at Olin's request -- has written at least one letter supporting an extended deadline, saying the company needs more time to plan and execute such a large project.
"Our Georgia manufacturers have requested the necessary time to implement the conversion of their facilities and ask that the timeline set in HR 2190 be revisited so they are able to comply with the new regulations set forth," the governor wrote in a letter to U.S. Rep. John Barrow, D-Ga., whose district includes the plant.
Olin has notified state regulators that it is "evaluating" such a conversion, according to Bert Brantley, communications director for Mr. Perdue, and Georgia EPD spokesman Kevin Chambers.
Olin spokeswoman Elaine Patterson acknowledged that the issue is under study but said no decisions have been made.
"Olin has indicated that we will fully evaluate the possibilities of doing away with mercury-cell technology at this facility if Congress allows the correct amount of time for such a change," she said. "We have not made any commitments concerning the future of our Augusta facility."
Olin's Augusta plant provides about 100 jobs that could be affected by the proposed new law, she said.
"Unfortunately, the legislation passed by the House Energy and Commerce Committee and its unworkable deadline still poses a significant threat to our operations in Augusta. If enacted into law, the legislation would force workers out of their jobs, increase costs to our customers and cost the Augusta-metro area millions of dollars in annual economic impact," she said.
Margie McClain, a Georgia field representative for the environmental group Oceana, said Olin's willingness to evaluate a conversion is welcome news. "I think it's very good that they're considering it. It's something we've hoped for."
Many similar plants in the U.S. have successfully converted to cleaner processes since the 1970s, she said, and most of those projects have been accomplished in three years or less.
Ms. Patterson said the new technology would require extensive construction. "Switching to different technology requires that existing plants be torn down and rebuilt," she said.
Previous estimates of such a conversion have totaled about $90 million.
Olin's Augusta plant generates more than $35 million in local goods and pays about $500,000 in property taxes. In addition to its 100 manufacturing jobs, 103 jobs are tied to support services.
In addition to Olin's Augusta plant, the legislation would affect an Olin plant in Charleston, Tenn.; a PPG Industries facility in Natrium, W.Va.; and the Ashta Chemicals plant in Ashtabula, Ohio.
Reach Rob Pavey at 868-1222, ext. 119, or rob.pavey@augustachronicle.com.
THE COMPANY: Olin's 43-year-old chlorine plant remains in compliance with all its state and federal regulatory permits and contributes 100 jobs -- and $500,000 in annual property taxes -- to the community.
THE ISSUE: Environmentalists have asked Olin to convert its Augusta plant to mercury-free technology. Since 1974, at least 116 plants have shifted to mercury-free technology, leaving just four in the U.S. that still use mercury. Pending legislation would force those four plants to close or convert to mercury-free processes. The cost of such a conversion in Augusta has been estimated at $90 million.
THE PLAN: Olin has not announced whether the Augusta plant will convert or close, but the company has advised state regulators it is evaluating a conversion.
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Since Olin Augusta generates > $35 million in local goods, pays ~ $500,000 in property taxes, has 100 mgf jobs & 103 support jobs, and even the conversion itself will provide jobs, Aug RC Comm had better be figuring out how to help pay for the conversion. How about a significant property tax break? This is the kind of issue our elected officials need to be focusing on instead of the inane bickering for which they're famous.
Olin will be headed to Mexico or China no matter what anyone does. Sad but true that's just the way it is, and now that Sonny boy has touched it the deal is done.
They want to buy time to continue what they are doing. There will be plenty of jobs paid for by the Aug RC Comm. Like clean up for the next 25 years. Let them go to Mexico; they have no intention to convert. These studies have been done years ago and they didn’t think it was worth the cost. So in 2006 they doubled their production using Mercury, when everyone else had converted. Something is up when out of 120 companies that have used this production method have switched and Olin has 2 of the 4 that have not converted.
People have been talking about conversion to a mercury-free process for years. Are we to now believe that Olin has to "study" the conversion process? Olin is stalling.
I feel bad for those peoples whose jobs will be affected, but I am scared Fedup is right. They are stalling until they can build a new plant elsewhere.
These A-Holes have had plenty of time to do the right thing. They have no intention of converting the plant. Lock step goes the state government, while they tout their 8 buck an hour jobs. These jerks should have to force their kids to drink the water that they defile daily. All the amendment will do is let these soul-less miscreants to pollute the river for another five years.
They will keep "considering" until they have finished building thier new plant in some third world country....and while they are considering, they will triple production/pollution here in this area. The new plant will be jusst as dangerous and the folks will welcome this vile company with open arms....lining up for the job oppurtunities.
I don't believe Olin has much choice. Either consider it and stay or don't consider it and leave. They are typical corporate bastards either way.
They've had plenty of time to plan. Stall tactics.
Is it any wonder the public has contempt for politicians? Perdue and Barrow are more interested in a few dollars than the public's health and well being. Olin has not been a good corporate citizen in our community for a very long time and they're just stalling for all the time they can get. Some "evaluating" pretense is just another stall tactic. Olin's Augusta plant and three others in the nation use the old mercury process to manufacture chorine. The Mercury Pollution Reduction Act, H.R. 2190 in the House and S. 1428 in the Senate, would stop the "Foul Four" chlorine plants from emitting toxic mercury into our air and water. Please visit the OCEANA website and send a letter to your congressional representatives and ask them to stop mercury pollution from chlorine plants:
http://takeaction.oceana.org/t/7445/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=11
after reading the above comments, I'm inclined to change my mind about earlier post. Does seem they're stalling. It's sad ...