HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Continental Carbon Company has reached a $98 million settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice to implement a series of plant improvements designed to reduce air emissions from its three U.S. plants.
Continental Carbon Company, which is headquartered in Houston, Texas, has agreed to establish lower emissions levels at its carbon black manufacturing facilities in Phenix City, Ala.; Ponca City, Okla.; and Sunray, Texas. The company will install additional air quality control equipment in stages at each of these facilities during the next six years. This initiative is the result of diligent and cooperative efforts with the USEPA during the past several years as part of the USEPA’s national enforcement initiative aimed at reducing emissions from chemical and petrochemical sources.
“Continental Carbon Company has always understood and accepted the responsibilities of environmental stewardship and we are well-equipped to meet these new emissions levels in each facility as agreed to with the USEPA. Continental Carbon Company is committed to ensuring our long-term viability as an environmentally sound supplier to our North American customer base. We sincerely appreciate our customers’ continued loyalty and look forward to their support of our plan to reduce our environmental footprint while maintaining our long-term commitment to meet our customers’ future carbon black needs,” commented Dennis J. Hetu, president of Continental Carbon Company.
Environmental Mitigation Projects in Continental Carbon’s Plant Cities
In line with the proposed consent decree with the USEPA, Continental Carbon also will invest $550,000 on environmental mitigation projects at the facilities and in the communities surrounding each of its facilities. The investments will include energy efficiency projects that will conserve energy and also provide pollutant reduction benefits.
Although Continental Carbon has always maintained full compliance with all requirements, to resolve this matter, the company has agreed to pay a total of $650,000 in civil penalties under this settlement agreement.
About Continental Carbon Company
Continental Carbon is a recognized leader in the development and manufacture of carbon blacks used in tire, rubber, and other specialty applications. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Continental Carbon operates production facilities in Alabama, Oklahoma, and Texas. The company has been in continuous operation since 1936 when it opened its first plant. Throughout the years, Continental Carbon has been at the forefront of carbon black technology development , and its technology is licensed to various third party end users globally. Continental Carbon is also focused on the development and manufacturing of next generation carbon-based products including carbon nanotubes, conductive carbon blacks, and other carbon based materials for use across a wide range of applications ranging from electro-static thermal dissipation and shielding to composite material constructions. More information is available on the company Website www.continentalcarbon.com.
