ATOFINA Chemicals, Inc. Calvert City, Kentucky, Facility Recommended for ISO 14001 Certification

CALVERT CITY, Ky., Sept. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DNV Certification, a division of Det Norske Veritas and an official registrar of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), has recommended that the Calvert City, Kentucky facility of ATOFINA Chemicals, Inc. be certified as an ISO 14001 facility. ISO, which is based in Geneva, Switzerland, is the world's largest developer of standards for business, industry and government. ISO standards help make the development, manufacture and supply of products and services more efficient, safer, and more environmentally friendly. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010813/ATOFINALOGO ) "Protecting the environment is a top priority at the Calvert City facility," said Jeff Hall, plant manager. "We are proud to be in line for ISO certification." Dale Duhon, facility environmental manager, agreed. "Being recommended for ISO certification is a significant accomplishment for our plant, and represents a lot of hard work and effort by all our employees," he said. ISO 14001 certification requires a management system that is based on three key points: compliance with all environmental regulations; a focus on pollution prevention; and continuous and verifiable improvement. Organizations demonstrate commitment to these points by selecting targets and goals, and by meeting them consistently. The Calvert City facility has had such an environmental management system for several years, according to Don Swearingen, facility environmental engineer. "A gap analysis helped us determine where documentation of our practices needed enhancement and clarification. We then reviewed and standardized our documentation to meet ISO criteria." In addition to a management system based on the three points mentioned above, ISO 14001 certification demands that applicants review all their operations and how they impact the environment. The Calvert City facility created a management team to guide the process. "We received recommendations and input from all parts of the site," Swearingen added. "We now have more checks and balances to make sure we are doing the best we can to protect the environment." Major industries are increasingly requiring that their suppliers demonstrate consistent quality and commitment to environmental protection by achieving ISO 14001 certification. For example, automobile manufacturers who use Forane® 134a are beginning to require that their suppliers have ISO 14001 certification. Approximately 37,000 businesses and factories in more than 100 countries now use the standard as a model for implementing environmental management systems. ATOFINA's Calvert City facility, located at 4444 Industrial Parkway, produces a variety of products in everyday use. Kynar® resin is a tough plastic coating used as wire insulation and on the exterior of many buildings. Forane® refrigerants are used as coolants in home and automobile air conditioning systems and in refrigeration equipment. Forane products also find uses as insulation for transportation, appliances and construction. Food grade hydrochloric acid is an essential processing ingredient in corn syrup and artificial sweeteners. The Calvert City facility began operations in 1948 as the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company. It was the first chemical plant built in the Calvert City area, now one of the major chemical producing areas in the southeastern United States. The facility now employs 269 people and contributes more than $60 million annually to the region's economy. Headquartered in Philadelphia, ATOFINA Chemicals, Inc. employs 3,000 people and produces high-performance chemicals and polymers. The Company reported sales in 2002 of $1.4 billion. ATOFINA Chemicals, Inc. is part of ATOFINA, the world's 6th largest chemical company with 71,500 employees and 2002 sales of $18.2 billion (euro 19.3 billion). ATOFINA is the chemicals branch of TOTAL (NYSE: TOT - News), the world's 4th largest oil and gas company, with 121,000 employees and 2002 sales of $97.6 billion (euro 103 billion).