&EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics 7408 EPA745-K-94-012 May 1994 EPA's 33/50 Program Company Profile Olin Corporation Printed on Recycled Paper ------- THE 33/50 PROGRAM This Company Profile is part of a series of reports being developed by EPA to highlight the accomplishments of companies participating in the 33/50 Program. The 33/50 Program is an EPA voluntary pollution reduction initiative that promotes reductions in direct environmental releases and offsite transfers of 17 high-priority toxic chemicals. The program derives its name from its overall goals -- an interim goal of a 33% reduction by 1992 and an ultimate goal of a 50% reduction by 1995. The program uses 1988 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) reporting as a baseline. In February, 1991, EPA began contacting the parent companies of TRI facilities that reported using 33/50 Program chemicals since 1988 to request their participation in the 33/50 Program. As of April, 1994, a total of 1,216 companies had elected to participate in the Program, pledging to reduce emissions of the 17 target chemicals by more than 355 million pounds by 1995. Companies are encouraged to set their own reduction targets, which may vary from the Program's national 33% and 50% reduction goals. Company commitments and reduction pledges continue to be received by EPA on a daify basis. 17 PRIORITY CHEMICALS TARGETED , BY THE 33/50 PROGRAM BENZENE CADMIUM & COMPOUNDS CARBON TETRACHLORIDE CHLOROFORM CHROMIUM & COMPOUNDS CYANIDES DICHLOROMETHANE* LEAD & COMPOUNDS MERCURY & COMPOUNDS , METHYL ETHYL KETONE METHYL ISOBUTYL KETONE NICKEL & COMPOUNDS TETRACHLOROETHYLENE TOLUENE 1,1,1-TRICHLOROETHANE TRICHLOROETHYLENE XYLENBS ' Also referred to as methylene chloride The 1992 TRI data revealed that releases and transfers of 33/50 Program chemicals de- clined by 40% between 1988 and 1992, surpass- ing the Program's 1992 interim reduction goal by more than 100 million pounds. This accomplish- ment, together with evidence from analysis of facilities' projected releases and transfers of the 17 priority chemicals, reported to TRI under the Pollution Prevention Act, offers strong encourage- ment that the 33/50 Program's ultimate goal of a 50% reduction by 1995 will be achieved. EPA is committed to recognizing companies for their participation in the 33/50 Program and for the emissions reductions they achieve. The Program issues periodic Progress Reports, in which participating companies are listed and highlighted. In addition, Company Profiles, such as this one, are being prepared to provide more detailed information about companies that have written to EPA describing significant emissions reduction initiatives. Information presented in these profiles is drawn primarily from the company's written 33/50 Program communications and the annual TRI reports submitted by their facilities (including Pollution Prevention Act data reported to TRI in Section 8 of Form R). All company communications to EPA regarding the 33/50 Program are available to the public upon request. EPA does not endorse the performance, worker safety, or environmental acceptability of any of the technical options discussed in this Profile. Mention of any product or procedure in this document is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute a recommendation of any such product or procedure, either express or implied, by EPA. For information on the 33/50 Program, contact the TSCA Hotline at (202) 554-1404 or contact 33/50 Program staff directly by phone at (202) 260-6907 or by mail at Mail Code 7408, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, U.S. EPA, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20460. 33/50 Program Company Profile: Olin Corporation ------- Olin Corporation Olin Corporation has reduced its total releases and transfers of 33/50 Program chemicals by 67% from 1988 to 1992. The company has achieved this result through source reduction, in-process and post-process recycling and reclamation, and im- proved waste treatment. This Company Profile highlights successful actions taken at several Olin facilities. I. CORPORATE BACKGROUND Olin Corporation is a Fortune 200 company, headquartered in Stamford, CT, with 29 facilities nationwide in 15 states. The company manufactures a wide variety of products, including specialty chemicals, metals, and other materials, as well as products for the defense, aerospace and sporting ammunition industries. In 1988, Olin reported releases of 14 of the 33/50 Program chemicals from 23 manufacturing facilities, as well as a number of non-33/50 TRI chemicals. Table I, at the end of this profile, pres- ents the company's TRI data on releases and transfers for the whole company, while Table II provides these data for selected facilities. Olin reported total releases and transfers of 2,040,150 pounds of 33/50 Program chemicals in 1988. Of this amount, 928,368 pounds were air emissions of solvents, and 817,062 pounds were off-site disposal of lead. Sources of 1988 Releases and Transfers of 33/50 Program Chemicals Off-Site Disposal of Lead 40% Air Emissions of Solvents 46% Releases and Transfers of 33/50 Program Chemicals Reported by Olin Corporation (1000 pounds) 1988 1992 33150 Chemicals Benzene 5 4 Carbon tetrachloride 12 4 Chloroform 6 31 Chromium & compounds 2 <1 Cyanide compounds < 1 < 1 Dichloromethane 289 165 Lead & compounds 920 53 Mercury 20 12 Methyl ethyl ketone 11 15 Nickel & compounds 22 44 Tetrachloroethylene 4 0 Toluene 5 8 1,1,1-Trichloroethane 644 252 Xylenes 102 85 Total 33/50 Chemicals* 2,040 673 * Columns do not sum to totals due to rounding. II. CORPORATE ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGY Olin was one of the first companies to sign on to the 33/50 Program by making a commitment to reduce its releases and transfers of all 33/50 Pro- gram chemicals. Since then, the company has actively investigated opportunities to reduce its environmental impact and has implemented emis- sion reduction options at many of its facilities. For example, Olin has adopted voluntary pollution prevention guidelines under the Responsible Care initiative of the Chemical Manufacturers Associa- tion (CMA), and has developed several additional company goals in areas including hazardous waste generation, wastewater treatment compliance, and the handling of existing hazardous waste remediation sites. III. 33/50 PROGRAM GOALS AND POLLUTION REDUCTION ACTIVITIES The company established a company-wide goal of reducing total releases and transfers of 33/50 Program chemicals by 50% in 1995, based on 1988 33/50 Program Company Profile: Olin Corporation ------- levels. Olin subsequently strengthened this pledge for itself in order to maintain a strong incentive to develop and implement pollution reduction activi- ties, committing to reduce total releases and transfers of 33/50 Program chemicals by 85% by year-end 1998, based on 1988 levels. Olin has pursued a number of approaches to reduce its releases of 33/50 Program chemicals and meet its 33/50 Program goals, including source reduction, in-process and post-process recycling and reclamation, and improved waste treatment. Examples of significant projects at Olin facilities that have successfully reduced the emissions of 33/50 program chemicals to the environment include: Olin Corp.. Rochester, NY. Olin's Rochester facility produces over 60 different types of specialty chemicals -- relatively low volume products tai- lored to the specific needs of individual customers, including biocides (zinc or sodium pyrithione), aniline dyes, and pharmaceutical ingredients. In 1988, the facility reported air emissions of 11,540 pounds of carbon tetrachloride, which is used as a non-reactive diluent. In order to recover carbon tetrachloride from air vents, the plant installed a scrubber and additional process vent collection equipment, and now reuses the reclaimed material in several of the facility's production processes. 1992 air emissions of carbon tetrachloride were reduced to 3,437 pounds at this facility, a reduction of 70%. This facility is also investigating the substitution of carbon tetrachloride and other 33/50 Program chemicals with non-toxic raw materials. restricting access and-requiring employees to justify their use of the material; identifying material substitution options for products not required to use the chemical (e.g., by military procurement specifications); and modifying the chiller on a solvent degreaser to enhance vapor capture. As a result of these efforts, air emissions of 1,1,1-tri- chloroethane were reduced to 21,700 pounds in 1992, a reduction of over 80% from 1988 levels. The facility is currently investigating two additional actions to further reduce the use of 1,1,1-trichloro- ethane: installing a parts washer which will use water-based cleaners instead of chlorinated sol- vents, or altering the overall production process to completely eliminate the cleaning process. Sources of Reductions in Releases and Transfers, 1988-1992 Reclamation of Lead 56% Solvent Emission Reductions 35% Olin Corporation's pledged reductions of releases and transfers under the 33/50 Program of 50% by 1995 and 85% by year end 1998 are augmented by other key corporate environmental goals and commitments. Olin Ordnance. Red Lion, PA. The Red Lion facility produces various munitions for the military. In 1988, this facility reported air emissions of 122,535 pounds of 1,1,1-trichloroethane. This chemical is used as a multi-purpose cleaner and degreaser. The Red Lion facility took a number of steps to reduce the use of this chemical, including: Bridgeport Brass Co.. Indianapolis, IN. In 1988 this facility reported air emissions of 37,000 pounds of 1,1,1-trichloroethane and dichloromethane, which were used as degreasers. By 1990, the facility had completely eliminated its use of these two chlorinated solvents by switching to the use of water-based soaps and hot water rinsing in its metal processing and maintenance operations. Main Plant Facility, East Alton. IL. Olin's East Alton Main Plant facility used to landfill large quantities of lead wastes (off-site disposal of 815,853 pounds in 1988), primarily from bullets test-fired into sand traps at the Winchester sport- ing ammunition plant. The facility used to screen 33/50 Program Company Profile: Olin Corporation ------- as much lead as possible out of the sand for reuse in their own production processes, and landfill the remaining lead-contaminated sand off-site. The facility began selling unscreened material to a battery manufacturer, and more recently began selling it to a lead smelter. The sand/lead mixture is used directly as a recycled raw material in the smelting process. The landfilling of lead wastes has thus been dramatically reduced to 39,673 pounds in 1992, for an overall reduction of 95%. Upon achieving its initial reduction goal of 50%, Olin strengthened its goal to an 85% reduction by 1998. The company as a whole continues to explore additional opportunities to reduce its releases and transfers of toxic chemicals, both through the 33/50 Program and the Responsible Care initiative. IV. PROGRESS TOWARDS 33/50 REDUCTION GOALS As a result of these and other efforts, Olin has made rapid progress in reducing its releases and transfers of 33/50 Program chemicals. Between 1988 and 1992, Olin reduced its releases and trans- fers of 33/50 Program chemicals by 67%, a reduc- tion of 1,367,614 pounds. Much of this reduction was the result of eliminating or capturing 473,114 pounds of air emissions of 33/50 Program solvents. In addition, Olin reduced off-site disposal of 33/50 Program chemicals by 876,904 pounds between 1988 and 1992, including shifting 776,180 pounds of lead from off-site disposal in a landfill to off-site recycling — an action that represents a move up the pollution prevention hierarchy. Olin's Progress Towards Meeting 33/50 Program Goals 2500 33/50 Goal 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 33/50 Goal: 50% reduction in releases and transfers of 33SO chemicals by 1995 New Goal: 85% reduction by 1998 V. SUMMARY OF OLIN'S EXPERIENCE Overall, Olin Corporation's participation in the 33/50 Program has been extremely positive. By 1992, Olin had already surpassed its 1995 goals for reducing releases and transfers of 33/50 Program chemicals. Olin achieved these successes through a mixture of source reduction, recycling and recla- mation, and treatment. This success is projected to continue, and Olin has set a new goal of achiev- ing an 85% reduction in releases and transfers of 33/50 Program chemicals by 1998. 33/50 Program Company Profile: Olin Corporation ------- Table I Olin Corporation Releases and Transfers of 33/50 Program Chemicals, 1988-1992 Chemical Carbon tetrachloride Dichloromethane Lead and Compounds 1,1,1 -Trichloroethane Other 33/50 Program Chemicals All 33/50 Program Chemicals Percent Change. 1988-1992 Year 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 Transfers Percent Surface Off-site Change Total Air Water Releases Transfers for Treatment/ Total Releases 1988-1992 Emissions Discharges to Land to POTW Disposal/Other and Transfers (1) Total Releases (pounds) (pounds) (pounds) (pounds) (pounds) (pounds) and Transfers 1 1 ,540 10,807 8,551 4,222 3,437 212,743 182,020 219,071 182,108 161,751 3,040 2,621 1,585 1,781 1,891 639,310 684,01 1 352,799 269,970 206,185 73,541 98,176 69,453 65,264 89,842 940,174 977,635 651,459 523,345 463,106 -51% 0 0 0 0 0 0 230 2 0 0 475 761 535 261 776 310 260 227 0 0 7,597 7,888 5,039 4,459 3,446 8,382 9,139 5,803 4,720 4,222 -50% 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1,000 250 750 336 328 0 0 0 0 0 5,057 4,431 3,926 2,335 3,111 6,057 4,681 4,676 2,671 3,444 -43% 18 20 514 2 181 393 837 431 22 11 634 388 10 299 310 0 0 0 0 0 6,740 4,046 661 318 414 7,785 5,291 1,616 641 916 -88% 63 801 2,354 117 99 75,548 4,482 5,328 11,069 2,918 915,212 421,965 462,512 44,998 49,351 3,983 250 250 42,899 45,671 82,946 395,330 370,644 140,637 102,809 1,077,752 822,828 841,088 239,720 200,848 -81% 11,621 11,628 11,419 4,341 3,717 288,684 187,569 224,832 193,199 164,685 920,361 425,985 465,392 47,675 52,656 643,603 684,521 353,276 312,869 251,856 175,881 509,871 449,723 213,013 199,622 2,040,150 1,819,574 1,504,642 771,097 672,536 -67% -68% 43% -94% -61 % 13% -67% Notes: (1) 1991 and 1992 Total Releases and Transfers do not include on- or off-site recycling or energy recovery. ------- Table n Olin Corporation Releases and Transfers of 33/50 Program Chemicals at Selected Facilities, 1988-1992 Transfers Surface Off-site Total Air Water Releases Transfers for Treatment/ Total Releases Emissions Discharges to Land to POTW Disposal/Other and Transfers (1) Facility/Chemical Year (pounds) (pounds) (pounds) (pounds) (pounds) (pounds) Olin Corp.. Rochester. NY Carbon tetrachloride Other 33/50 Program Chemicals All 33/50 Program Chemicals Olin Ordnance, Red Lion, PA 1,1,1 -Trichloroethane Other 33/50 Program Chemicals All 33/50 Program Chemicals Bridgeport Brass Corp., Indianapolis, Dichloromethane 1,1,1 -Trichloroethane 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1989 1990 1991 1992 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 IN 1988 1989 1988 1989 11,540 10,807 8,551 4,222 3,437 15,013 8,479 7,198 6,981 7,056 26,553 19,286 15,749 11,203 10,493 122,535 145,000 30,000 33,440 21,700 5,500 5,820 5,600 1,669 122,535 150,500 35,820 39,040 23,369 22,000 28,000 15,000 1,211 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 20 514 2 181 1,376 1,730 618 37 26 1,394 1,750 1,132 39 207 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 63 801 2,354 117 99 11,485 3,711 221,543 30,007 29,449 11,548 4,512 223,897 30,124 29,548 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6,600 0 0 0 0 6,600 0 0 0 0 0 11,621 11,628 11,419 4,341 3,717 27,874 13,920 229,359 37,025 36,536 39,495 25,548 240,778 41,366 40,253 122,535 145,000 30,000 33,440 21,700 5,500 5,820 12,200 1,669 122,535 150,500 35,820 45,640 23,369 22,000 28,000 15,000 1,211 ------- Table II Olin Corporation Releases and Transfers of 33/50 Program Chemicals at Selected Facilities, 1988-1992 Facility/Chemical Year Other 33/50 Program Chemicals 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 All 33/50 Proeram Chemicals 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 Main Plant Facility, East Alton, IL Lead 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 Other 33/50 Program Chemicals 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 All 33/50 Program Chemicals 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 Transfers Surface Off-site Total Air Water Releases Transfers for Treatment/ Total Releases Emissions Discharges to Land to POTW Disposal/Other and Transfers (1) (pounds) (pounds) (pounds) (pounds) (pounds) (pounds) 750 104 133 175 248 37,750 29,315 133 175 248 1,700 1,700 1,163 1,500 1,500 272,700 282,800 239,799 151,501 91,922 274,400 284,500 240,962 153,001 93,422 306 242 2 31 9 306 242 2 31 9 150 250 267 210 680 1,453 945 111 670 956 1,603 1,195 1,044 880 1,636 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 278 386 205 512 615 278 386 205 512 615 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,000 3,009 6,505 5,294 1,744 1,000 3,009 6,505 5,294 1,744 815,853 330,088 300,616 35,953 39,673 5,173 4,743 9,008 8,251 3,730 821,026 334,831 309,624 44,204 43,403 2,334 3,741 6,845 6,012 2,616 39,334 32,952 6,845 6,012 2,616 817,703 332,038 302,046 37,663 41,853 279,326 288,488 249,584 160,422 96,608 1,097,029 620,526 551,630 198,085 138,461 Notes: (1) 1991 and 1992 Total Releases and Transfers do not include on- or off-site recycle or energy recovery. ------- |