30-foot Levee Provides Added Assurance

“This wall is designed to protect the significant investment we have made in the site and the jobs of our 523 employees,” said Pat Nichols, plant manager.  “With an annual economic impact of $394 million in Mississippi, our plant is an important contributor to the local economy.  Our new levee will protect that contribution.”

The DuPont DeLisle site restarted operations less than five months after Hurricane Katrina’s landfall on Jan. 25, 2006.  Today the titanium dioxide plant is running smoothly and at near-capacity rates.   Stringent DuPont construction and engineering standards helped the site avoid substantial structural damage and its environmental systems remained intact during the storm’s assault.  Although the hurricane storm surge surpassed the site’s levee, environmental management systems at the plant were protected by a secondary system of engineered berms that were not surpassed by the surge.

The site’s environmental performance during the hurricane has been validated by four published regulatory reports by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.  The most recent EPA report, published on Feb. 10, 2006, concluded that “Based on these sampling results, EPA does not believe the site was impacted by Hurricane Katrina.”

When the DeLisle site was constructed in 1974, the 20 foot storm surge caused by Hurricane Camille in 1969 was the standard upon which storm protection measures were based.  Hurricane Katrina’s historic 26 foot storm surge proved the case for an additional safety margin.

“With a 30-foot levee, our site will be protected from flooding associated with future Katrina-sized storms,” said Nichols.  The site also takes additional precautions to prevent damage from future hurricanes.  One example is the site’s existing pre-hurricane shutdown procedure, which occurred prior to Hurricane Katrina.  The plant will also continue to operate their Category 5 Hurricane Dome, which sheltered 24 volunteers safely from a direct hit by Hurricane Katrina.

In a related announcement, DuPont has communicated to its customers that the “force majeure” declaration issued after Hurricane Katrina has been lifted.  Shortly after assessing storm damage to the plant in late August, DuPont declared a “force majeure” event to its customers, preventing and excusing DuPont from performing its obligations under supply contracts. 

Titanium dioxide is a white pigment used widely in the paper, plastics and coatings industries.   DuPont is the world’s largest manufacturer of the pigment.

DuPont is a science company.  Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere.  Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.