The Montrose Chemical Corporation 's site in Los Angeles, California sits on thirteen acres. I think that that is smaller than Uniroyal Chemical's site here in Elmira. They manufactured DDT which requires chlorobenzene as part of the process. They spilled or dumped chlorobenzene onto the ground and into the natural environment apparently with just about the same care, consideration and respect for their human neighbours and the natural environment as Uniroyal Chemical did.
The extent of the environmental damages there are beyond horrific. The extent of chlorobenzene DNAPL present in the subsurface is both horrific and a major reason why their cleanup may go on for generations. Based upon my first hand experience here in Elmira with Uniroyal Chemical and corporate successors, it appears to me that our local home grown (i.e. U.S. multi national company) polluter has a standard solution for their environmental problems. Politely it is called gilding the lily and or greenwashing or even minimizing all problems. Less diplomatically it's called obfuscation or lying like dogs.
Why do corporations think that switching spokespersons somehow nullifies their history of dishonesty and deception? Why do corporations think that changing ownership also somehow nullifies their past history of deceit with local citizens? Is it possible that corporations like Uniroyal/Lanxess believe that as long as they have the local councillors support then lying to their citizens is now somehow O.K.?
None of it is O.K. Not one goddamn word from Lanxess is O.K. or ever will be. All bridges of trust, respect and confidence have been burned by Uniroyal/Crompton/Chemtura and Lanxess. Too many lies by too many people for too many years/decades has caused this. Shooting the messenger is but one of their tactics with much support from local politicians over the decades, to their shame.
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