[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 143 (Sunday, October 11, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2049]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E2049]]



        HONORING SOLVAY POLYMERS, INC., AND SOLVAY INTEROX, INC.

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN BENTSEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 9, 1998

  Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Solvay Polymers, 
Inc., and Solvay Interox, Inc., Battleground Road Plant Site, upon 
their selection by the La Porte/Bayshore Chamber of Commerce as the 
1998 Industry of the Year. Solvay's commitment to building a better 
future for the La Porte/Bayshore community has made it an example all 
industry can follow.
  Solvay Polymers and Solvay Interox are subsidiaries of Solvay 
America, Inc., a holding company for the Solvay Group, a multinational 
group of chemical and pharmaceutical companies headquartered in 
Brussels, Belgium, with operations in more than 40 countries. Some 600 
employees and approximately 500 contractors work at the two companies' 
Battleground Road plant. Located on 274 acres, the plant in more than 
four decades has grown from a one-product site into the two businesses 
that manufacture a wide range of products.
  In addition to being an integral part of the area economy, the two 
companies also contribute greatly to the community. Their employees 
participate in such organizations as La Porte's Local Emergency 
Planning Council, Citizens' Advisory Council, La Porte Education 
Foundation, La Porte/Bayshore Chamber of Commerce, and Boys and Girls 
Harbor. The employees contribute almost 5,000 volunteer hours annually 
to surrounding communities. The company's stated goal is for La Porte 
citizens to feel that the community is a better place because of their 
neighbors, Solvay Polymers and Solvay Interox.
  Dedication to worker safety and environmental performance has also 
been a hallmark of the two companies. Their employees actively 
participate in the Chemical Manufacturers Association's Responsible 
Care program, which promotes continuous improvement of health, safety, 
and environmental performance. Through a pollution prevention and waste 
minimization program, the plant reduced emissions of government 
reportable waste compounds by 50 percent between 1987 and 1996. The 
site holds a charter membership in Clean Texas 2000, and employees are 
dedicated to demonstrating a high level of commitment to the continued 
safe operations of the plant, along with the safety of the surrounding 
community.
  The Battleground Road plant has a significant history. Solvay's 
predecessor at the site, Celanese Corporation, started plastic 
production at the plant in 1957, making it one of the first sites to 
produce high-density polyethylene. Today, Solvay Polymers, the plastics 
company, annually produces 1.7 billion pounds of high-density 
polyethylene and nearly 800 million pounds of polypropylene at this 
site. This combined production level makes the site one of the world's 
largest plastic production facilities.
  These plastics are used to make many products essential to everyday 
life. For example, high-density polyethylene is used to manufacture 
milk bottles, gas tanks, children's play toys, plastic bags, and 
liners. Polypropylene products include food containers for products 
such as ketchup and syrup, carpet backing, and children's products such 
as car seats and high chairs. The site's new polypropylene gas-phase 
line makes a special impact resistant polymer used to make automobile 
bumper fascias and other car parts.
  The second company, Solvay Interox, produces more than 100 million 
pounds of hydrogen peroxide each year. This product is used in the pulp 
and paper industry as a wood pulp bleach and also has many 
environmental applications such as wastewater treatment and cleanup of 
contaminated soil. The company's high purity hydrogen peroxide is used 
as a cleaning and etching agent in the semiconductor industry. The site 
also produces persalts (percarbonates and perborates), which are used 
as color-safe brightener/deodorizers for fabric detergents.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Solvay Polymers, Inc., and Solvay 
Interox, Inc., on being named the La Porte/Bayshore Chamber of Commerce 
1998 Industry of the Year. This honor is well deserved for their work 
in expanding business and job opportunities, producing products vital 
to our everyday lives, their commitment to environmental protection and 
worker safety, and their many contributions to the community.

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