Invista

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Invista is a subsidiary of Koch Industries. It is one of the world’s largest integrated producers of polymers and fibers, primarily for nylon, spandex and polyester applications.

Koch Wiki

Charles Koch is the right-wing billionaire owner of Koch Industries. As one of the richest people in the world, he is a key funder of the right-wing infrastructure, including the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the State Policy Network (SPN). In SourceWatch, key articles on Charles Koch and his late brother David include: Koch Brothers, Americans for Prosperity, Stand Together Chamber of Commerce, Stand Together, Koch Family Foundations, Koch Universities, and I360.

Brands

Brands include:[1] Antron Carpet Fiber, Comforel Fiber, Coolmax Fabric, Cordura Fabric, Dacron Fiberfill, Lycra Fiber, Polyshield Resin, Solarmax Fabric, Stainmaster Carpet, Supplex Fabric, Supriva Fiber, Tactel Fiber, and Thermolite Fabric.

History

On September 4, 2003, the E.I. duPont de Nemours and Company (DuPont) renamed its DuPont Textiles & Interiors (DTI) unit, choosing Invista as a step toward its eventual separation, either by spin-off or sale. [2] On April 30, 2004, the sale of the DuPont Textiles and Interiors assets to Koch Industries, Inc. for $4.2 billion was finalized. The transaction involved more than 40 sites worldwide. Twelve acquired facilities were located in the U.S., the Seaford, Del. facility and facilities located at: Athens, Ga.; Calhous, Ga.; Camden, S.C.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Dalton, Ga.; Kinston, N.C.; LaPorte, Texas; Martinsville, Va.; Orange, Texas; Victoria, Texas; and Waynesboro, Va.[3]

Power plants

Existing Coal Plants

The Invista Seaford Power Plant provides power to Invista's Seaford, Delaware synthetic textiles manufacturing facility, and the Invista Waynesboro Power Plant in Waynesboro,Virginia, provides power to Invista's Waynesboro synthetic textiles manufacturing facility. [4] [5] The Camden May Power Plant produces power for Invista's Camden May polymers manufacturing plant.[6]

Plant Name State Year(s) Built Capacity
Invista Seaford Power Plant DE 1939 10 MW, 10 MW, 10MW
Invista Waynesboro Power Plant VA 1929 3.0 MW, 3.0 MW, 3.0 MW, 3.4 MW
Camden May Power Plant SC 1952, 1952, 1993 5.5 MW, 5.5 MW, 19.0 MW,

Seaford Environmental Violations

The Seaford plant burns coal and in 2001 reported discharging into the air 130 pounds of the neurotoxin mercury. Total “Toxic Release Inventory” on-site releases for that year were 469,000 pounds. For 2005, the total was 602,000 pounds. By 2007, the amounts reported had increased to 764,000 pounds. Careless disposal of coal ash on the site has contaminated groundwater with arsenic, carbon tetrachloride, and other toxic chemicals.[7]

A December 2008 EPA Region 3 progress report on the Invista Seaford Plant found arsenic in the underlying groundwater, and stated the "source of the arsenic is most likely coal ash generated by the site’s power plant." Invista has said it is converting its coal-fired boilers to natural gas, however activists such as Citizens for Clean Power and the Sierra Club argue any additional coal ash generated should only be disposed of in a lined landfill.[8]

In April 2009 it was determined that INVISTA would pay a civil penalty of $850,000 to EPA and a civil penalty of $500,000 to Delaware for environmental violations found through audit at various INVISTA facilities, including the INVISTA-Seaford Plant. A Consent Decree was lodged in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware specifying corrective actions expected to result in net reductions in emissions from three boilers at the Seaford plant of 1,029 tons per year of nitrogen oxides; 4,211 tons per year of sulfur oxides; and 269 tons per year of particulate matter.[9]

Contact Information

Invista
2801 Centerville Road
Wilmington, DE 19808
Phone: 302-683-3001
Website: http://www.invista.com/

Articles and Resources

References

Related SourceWatch Articles

External Articles

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