Olin Chlor Alkali Products

Where We're Located

Niagara Falls, NY

Welcome to Olin Chlor Alkali's Niagara Falls Plant

Facility

Olin Chlor Alkali Products
2400 Buffalo Avenue
P.O. Box 748
Niagara Falls, NY 14302
(716) 278-6469
Customer Support (800) 298-6546

What We Do

Located just two miles from the falls in the city of Niagara Falls, the plant employs approximately 175 people. The plant is situated on a 65-acre site on Buffalo Avenue, 2 miles from the Canadian Border. The facility was founded in 1897, starting up on Thanksgiving Day as the Castner Electrolytic Alkali Company.

Today, the plant produces chlorine, caustic soda, hydrogen, sodium hypochlorite, hydrochloric acid, and dilute sulfuric acid. Many of these products are important ingredients used in the manufacture of a wide variety of products that are part of our modern way of life. In fact, each time you read a newspaper, use bleach in your laundry, ride in a car, enjoy safe drinking water or take aspirin to relieve a headache, you're benefiting from one or more of our products.

From its location on the Niagara River, the plant can take advantage of the area's abundance of low cost hydroelectric power-a distinct advantage considering that the facility has an average yearly power consumption equivalent to about 95,000 homes.

Our Economic Impact

Olin Chlor Alkali Products' Niagara Falls Plant contributes greatly to the local and regional economy. Our payroll is approximately $15 million annually. We purchase around $32 million of goods and services locally and regionally each year. These financial effects multiply when you consider the sales tax on these goods and services, plus the sales, income and real estate taxes paid by Olin employees and contractors.

Striving To Be Good Neighbors

At Olin Chlor Alkali Products, we're not only committed to producing high quality products that help improve our quality of life, but we're committed to being a vital part of our community---to being a good neighbor. That's because the people at our Niagara plant have lived and worked in the community for years. So we're committed to protecting the environment and our co-workers.

As part of this commitment, we believe in maintaining an open, honest dialogue with our community. That's why we meet regularly with the Niagara Plant Community Advisory Panel, which is made up of a cross-section of community members who meet regularly to discuss issues that are important to our neighbors.

Public Safety: Our Most Important Job

From research and development to manufacturing, distribution, transportation, use and disposal, we feel we need to make every stage of a chemical's life incident-free. For us, that means no incidents, no injuries-absolutely no situations that could bring harm to people or the environment.

Working together with Olin management, our employees have pledged that we will strive for zero safety and environmental incidents. To help ensure public safety, our facility is prepared with six layers of safety and environmental protection to help prevent incidents:

Employees
Well-trained employees are our most important resource in operating our facilities and in protecting our communities.

Mechanical integrity
We regularly inspect and test all of our equipment which greatly reduces the chance of failure.

Process reviews
Conducted every five years on all systems which handle hazardous materials, as well as on all new designs prior to operation, process reviews identify things that could possibly go wrong so that these situations can be corrected and controlled.

Process controls
A variety of backup systems provide precise control of processes and maintain tight operating parameters.

Monitoring systems
Our highly sensitive detectors identify potential problems, giving operators early warning and enabling them to respond more quickly and effectively.

Emergency response
The key to minimizing the effect of an accidental release is to get the right people and equipment to the scene quickly, including both on-site and off-site emergency responders. On site, we have trained emergency responders and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT's). Our emergency materials responders are trained to handle off-site incidents involving our products. The Olin Chemical Emergency Action Network (OCEAN^Ž) is available 24 hours a day at 888-289-1911 to respond to offsite incidents. And it's all coordinated with local responders using our joint training and emergency response plans.

The Risk Management Plan

The Risk Management Planning regulation was issued by the US Environmental Protection Agency in June 1996. Its purpose was to establish guidelines for identifying, reporting and communicating potential accidental releases of hazardous materials produced and stored in significant quantities. The regulation requires that facilities handling these materials submit their Risk Management Plan to the EPA by June 1999, at which time the plans will be available to the public. Olin took a proactive stance and communicate the plans directly to with our communities.

If you're interested in reviewing the Niagara Falls Plant's Risk Management Plan, please contact us or call 716-278-6411.

Location and Lifestyle

You'd be hard-pressed to find a person unfamiliar with Niagara Falls; after all, this famous tourist and honeymoon destination attracts visitors each year from every corner of the world. Tourism, of course, makes great contributions to the region's strong economy, thanks in part to the more than 10 million visitors who arrive to see the Falls each year. However, the Niagara region is also host to a number of manufacturers, representing such industries as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, packaged foods, and paints.

Beyond the mist of the powerful falls, life in this picturesque setting is a study in contrasts. A leisurely afternoon stroll through the lush apple orchards that pepper the greater Niagara landscape can give way to a evening on the town in one of Niagara's bustling nightspots-or an evening of entertainment at the historic Riviera Theatre, complete with music from the authentic Mighty Wurlitzer organ. Anglers, lured by the area's reputation as a world-class, year-round sport fishing destination, may take a break from the action dining and shopping in one of the storybook towns and villages surrounding Niagara.

Then, of course there's Niagara's close proximity to "big-city" attractions, culture and nightlife. Buffalo-less than thirty minutes away-offers a wealth of activities and points of interest, from professional sports (the football Bills, the baseball Bisons and the hockey Sabres) to world-class dining and shopping. Toronto, also a short drive, is another popular destination for Niagara natives.

Olin in the Community

Olin Niagara Chlor Alkali Products and its employees give financially and contribute countless hours to worthwhile community projects. We're particularly interested in projects, which improve the lives of our community's families and children.

Recent examples of community efforts involving Olin include:

Sponsorship of the Niagara Middle School through the Adopt-a-School program
Donations of computers and equipment to the Niagara Middle School
Provided for the Tuscarora Community Computer Literacy and Health Program
Financial support of the United Way
Membership in and support of the Niagara Falls Chamber of Commerce
Sponsorship of the Community Faire
Sponsorship of the Niagara Falls Festival of Lights

News

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Community Advisory Panel

Formed in 1990, the Niagara Plant Community Advisory Panel (CAP) helps us better understand and respond to the concerns of our community. Composed of a cross-section of community members and several representatives of Olin, the panel meets monthly to discuss plant operations, environmental concerns, safety, emergency preparedness, community involvement, and other issues the panel decides are important. Then, the panel helps Olin develop action plans to address these concerns. Participants also provide feedback regarding Olin's operations and ways to strengthen communications and build trust with the community.

To contact the CAP in your area, click here.