Wallingford-based Cytec Industries top polluter in CT

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2011 Toxics Release Inventory, Cytec Industries, a Wallingford-based chemical manufacturer, was the number one most polluting site in Connecticut.

According to EPA’s website,

“The annual TRI provides citizens with vital information about their communities. The TRI program collects information on certain toxic chemical releases to the air, water, and land, as well as information on waste management and pollution prevention activities by facilities across the country. TRI data are submitted annually to EPA, states and tribes by facilities in industry sectors such as manufacturing, metal mining, electric utilities, and commercial hazardous waste facilities.”

Cytec Industries released 221,665 pounds of pollutants, amounting to 11 percent of the state’s total releases. This was a 19 percent decrease in releases in 2011 and 33 percent decrease over the past five years. Interestingly, these decreases came while the company increased production 1.4 percent during 2011.

This isn’t the first time Cytec Industries appeared on a list of major polluters in Connecticut. In fact, in 2007, we filed a Notice of Intent to Sue under the Clean Water Act against Cytec Industries and four other companies in the state who were chronically violating their discharge permits. The notices resulted in more than $3 million in penalties and projects to protect the environment.

Today, the Hartford Business Journal reported that the number of 2011 pollutants released in Connecticut decreased by 25 percent from 2010 to 2.1 million pounds.

Here are the rest of Connecticut’s top offenders according to the TRI:

• Covidien (North Haven): released 174,570 pounds of pollutants, down five percent from 2010 and 11 percent over the past five years.

• Pratt & Whitney (East Hartford): released 153,661 pounds of pollutants, down 19 percent from 2010 and 92 percent over five years.

• PCC Structurals (Groton): released 118,684 pounds of pollutants, increasing its releases 307 percent from 2010.

• GBC Metals (Waterbury): released 116,755 pounds of pollutants, down 21 percent from 2010.

• General Cable Industries (Willimantic): released 94,312 pounds of pollutants, down 1.7 percent from 2010.

• Unimetal Surface Finishing (Naugatuck): released 83,956 pounds of pollutants, increasing its releases 22.6 percent from 2010.

• Summit Corp. of America (Thomaston): released 70,029 pounds of pollutants, down 41.3 percent from 2010.

• Ahlstrom Nonwovens (Windsor Locks): released 61,338 pounds of pollutants, down 36.5 percent from 2010.

• Cray Valley (Stratford): released 53,565 pounds of pollutants, increasing its releases 20 percent from 2010.

The full list of Connecticut facilities and pollutants released can be viewed here.

Posted by Rebecca Kaplan, director of communications for CFE/Save the Sound