CHARLESTON DAILY MAIL, SEPTEMBER 7, 2006
Dow Epoxy has announced plans to stop producing a chemical used to make elastomers and protective coatings at the Institute plant by August 2007.
The plant is owned and operated by Bayer CropScience and is one of seven Dow Chemical Co. production facilities at the company’s West Virginia Operations site in Institute.
With 550 employees at the site, Bayer is unsure how many will be affected by the closure.
“Only a few employees support this very small Dow unit. And, with production continuing for another year, it is too early to say what, if any, effect this might have on overall employment levels,” said Tom Dover, Bayer CropScience spokesman.
On the Dow side, one Union Carbide salaried employee will be affected, said Dow spokeswoman Nikki Orcutt. Dow owns and operates Union Carbide’s West Virginia Operations.
“While this decision has a small impact on our overall operations in West Virginia, it does align with our previously announced efforts to reduce infrastructure costs and transition WVO to a small site,” said Allan Fowler, West Virginia Operations vice president and site leader.
In March, Dow-owned Union Carbide announced that it would be ending its longtime contract with the Bayer MaterialScience’s site in South Charleston effective April 2009, leaving 230 to 330 employees without jobs.
The Institute plant decision was not made locally, Orcutt said.

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