April 12, 2023
Update from Trinseo Regarding Accidental Latex Emulsion Release to Waterway at Bristol, Pa. Plant

Trinseo worked closely with local, state and federal authorities in response to the accidental release of a latex emulsion product at our manufacturing plant in Bristol, Pa., on Friday, March 24, 2023.

All water providers in the region have said publicly that the water is safe to drink. On Tuesday, March 28, the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) published an update affirming that “Contaminants related to the Bristol Township discharge have never been found in PWD’s water system at any point.”

On Wednesday, March 29 the Philadelphia Water Department, Aqua Pennsylvania, New Jersey American Water, Burlington Township Public Works, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the conclusion of drinking water sampling related to the release. Testing of water samples conducted in the days since the release has not detected material associated with the release. Trinseo continues to work in cooperation with governmental authorities on response activities.

We are extremely grateful to our community first responders for their speed and professionalism, and to state and federal agencies for their assistance in containment and cleanup. Trinseo and the regulatory agencies have tested water samples in the surrounding area to confirm that material associated with the release is not a threat to people or wildlife.

We voluntarily paused all production operations at the Bristol plant to devote our full resources to addressing the release and to conducting a thorough review and analysis of all material-handling processes and equipment at the Bristol facility. After consulting with the regulatory agencies, we have resumed all operations.

As a Responsible Care® company, the safety of our employees, our communities and our environment is our top priority. We track our environmental and safety performance transparently each year through our sustainability reporting, and place a strong emphasis on safety for our employees and our local communities. We remain committed to being accountable and responsive to the public and our local communities. You can find more details about the release and Trinseo’s response below. We will provide additional information as it becomes available.

Please contact us with any questions, comments or concerns at ftsecom@trinseo.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

A pipe at our Bristol, Pa., plant that carries the material above ground from the production area to a holding tank failed, causing the accidental release of a latex emulsion product that overflowed our on-site containment system and entered Otter Creek through a stormwater drain. From the creek, it flowed into the Delaware River.

Tests of water samples conducted by government agencies and water utilities in the days since the release have not detected material associated with the release. The Philadelphia Water Department, Aqua Pennsylvania, New Jersey American Water, Burlington Township Public Works, and the EPA announced the conclusion of water sampling on Wednesday, March 29.

Our Bristol plant, which Trinseo acquired in May 2021, has a history of compliance with environmental regulations. The EPA’s Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) database shows that the facility has had no significant violations, no quarters of noncompliance (3 years) and no formal enforcement actions (5 years). You can find the ECHO database here.

Trinseo’s Bristol plant holds an air emissions permit under Title V of the Clean Air Act, and we operate in compliance with our Title V permit.

For the most updated information about the safety of your drinking water, please consult your local water provider. All providers in the region have said publicly that the water is safe to drink. Public officials have reported that environmental testing to date has detected no impacts from the release on municipal drinking water sources. The City of Philadelphia announced on Monday, March 27 that chemicals from the Altuglas plant have not been detected in the city’s water supply and that, in the words of one city official, “Your tap water is and remains safe.” On Tuesday, March 28, the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) published an update affirming that “Contaminants related to the Bristol Township discharge have never been found in PWD’s water system at any point.”

We worked closely with local, state, and federal agencies and first responders to complete cleanup activities and assess potential impacts. Operations at our Bristol plant were paused in order to conduct a thorough assessment of all our systems and processes to identify and address potential vulnerabilities. We will continue to seek and implement process improvements throughout our operations.

Questions about the details of the cleanup and water sampling are best addressed by the U.S Coast Guard and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the agencies that have been overseeing the response and cleanup.

Approximately 8,100 gallons of latex emulsion product — approximately 50% water and the remainder latex polymer — were spilled. Latex emulsion is a white liquid used in Altuglas’ downstream production processes associated with acrylic plastics that are in turn used in medical, automotive and other various end applications.

The amount of chemical substances present in the 8,100 gallons of material and reported to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency is calculated to be 0.32 pounds of butyl acrylate, 1.62 pounds of ethyl acrylate, 27.22 pounds of methyl methacrylate, and 0.26 pounds of styrene.

After consulting with the regulatory agencies, Trinseo has resumed all operations at the Bristol plant.

We have been working closely with local, state and federal officials, providing the information they needed to coordinate an effective response. The regulatory agencies have been providing public information.

You may contact us with any questions, comments or concerns at ftsecom@trinseo.com.

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