Sarnia, ON - October 01, 2007
Representatives from Dow Chemical Canada Inc’s Sarnia Site went before city council today, to present their closure plan and assure the community representatives that environmental and property ownership responsibilities would be met during the entire process.
Until a suitable buyer is found for the 130-ha (322-acre) industrial site, situated in the southwest section of the city, Dow will proceed with its closure plan with completion in the spring of 2011. At that time, all employees will have left the site, equipment and buildings will have been removed, and the site will be in an environmentally secure state. The empty land will be planted with shrubs and low-growing grasses.
To date, three of the site’s four manufacturing units have been shut down and are in various stages of decommissioning as they are readied for demolition, which will begin next year. The remaining facility on the site, Dow’s Propylene Oxide Derivatives unit, will close in April 2009.
“Throughout the implementation of the closure plan Dow will continue to work co-operatively with the Ministry of the Environment. As long as there are chemicals or products on the site, it is business as usual. said Catherine Creber, the site’s closure program leader. “We adhere to the principles of Responsible Care® and take our responsibilities very seriously. Only when we are satisfied that the site is environmentally secure will we discuss with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment the appropriate changes to our permits and procedures.”
The Dow Sarnia closure plan is being implemented at the local level and will follow an orderly plan that includes: final cleaning and preparation of equipment; demolition and removal of buildings, equipment and infrastructure; soil testing and clean up, if necessary; the construction of a gravity-fed, surface water drainage system; and post-closure property security and maintenance by qualified third parties.
Dow will retain ownership of its two local landfill properties, but is preparing to eventually sell its other outlying agricultural properties and underground storage facility in St. Clair Township.
Don Fysh, the site’s director of operations, reported that approximately 75 percent of the site’s original 340 employees will be eligible for retirement at the end of their tenure. Close to 15 percent of employees will be re-deployed within Dow, while those remaining continue to look for jobs, undergo further training, or are still working at the site.
“During the past year, we have provided a variety of individualized services, ranging from financial planning to career counselling and resume preparation, to assist our employees as they make decisions about their futures. In many cases, we have been able to extend their length of employment to reach employment milestones.”
Following their presentation to city council, Dow Sarnia representatives will present their closure plan and ongoing activities to interested service clubs and organizations, at a regular roundtable discussion forum and through news media updates. Interested citizens can e-mail questions and comments about the closure plan to Dow Sarnia Site leaders at dowsarnia@dow.com.
About Dow
Dow Chemical Canada Inc., a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, employs approximately 1,200 people in Canada. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Dow Canada and its affiliates have manufacturing locations in: Sarnia and Toronto, Ontario; Fort Saskatchewan and Prentiss, Alberta; and Varennes, Quebec. For more information about Dow Canada, please visit our web site at www.dowcanada.com.
For Editorial Information:
Mimi Long
The Dow Chemical Company
(519) 339-3196
