FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 25, 2019
12:45 p.m. CST

KURARAY AMERICA, INC. STATEMENT ON NON-HAZARDOUS MATERIAL ESCAPE AT FAYETTEVILLE WORKS PLANT

HOUSTON – Officials with Kuraray America, Inc. confirm operations at the Fayetteville Works Plant are currently shut down as their team investigates an escape of 3GO plasticizer (triethylene glycol bis(2-ethylhexanoate)) to an adjacent storm drain that is no longer in use, but was uncovered during planned construction.

At approximately 1:45 p.m. EST on Tuesday, the alarm at the plant signaled an off-site incident. The Chemours Company notified the DEQ at that time, and Kuraray followed up with the DEQ around 3:30 p.m. to the original notification from Chemours. Kuraray’s operations continued to run until approximately 5:00 p.m. in an effort to understand where the release was coming from within the facility.

After a preliminary investigation, it has been determined that less than 30 gallons of 3GO plasticizer was released. The plasticizer is a chemical used in Kuraray’s PVB film manufacturing process, which makes PVB sheet more pliable when utilized in windshields to enable flexibility to absorb impact. The plasticizer is biodegradable, and according to the safety data sheet, this material does not contain any chemical components with known CAS numbers. The 3GO plasticizer is not a PFOA or other fluorinated chemical.

Kuraray’s operations and construction will not resume until the investigation is complete. Kuraray is working to ensure that there is no risk of an additional chemical escape and will release more information as it becomes available. Kuraray is fully cooperating with the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) and Brunswick County. Clean-up operations are underway.

 

About Kuraray

Founded in 1926, Kuraray is a world leader in performance-based polymer and synthetic chemistry technologies, including resins, chemicals, fibers and textiles. Located at 22824 NC Hwy 87 in West Fayetteville, North Carolina, Kuraray’s Fayetteville Plant currently produces Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB) as an extruded film and as a resin. Kuraray acquired the GLS/Vinyls units of the site in 2014. The Trosifol Division – part of the Kuraray Group – is a global producer of PVB and ionoplast interlayers for laminated safety glass applications in the architectural, automotive and photovoltaic industries. For more information, visit www.kuraray.us.com.

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Media Contact:
Kuraray America, Inc.
281-283-1789
jennifer.murphy@kuraray.com