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			Community Advisory Panel Contact Us

Community Advisory Panel (CAP) Overview

Dow began the Community Advisory Panel (CAP) program with the goal of building trust, cooperation and mutual respect between Dow and the communities where we live and work.

A Community Advisory Panel is a citizen group formed to facilitate and enhance dialogue between local citizens and chemical plants. Originally a part of the Chemical Manufacturers Association's Responsible Care® Program, a CAP provides a bridge for the public to voice concerns and questions, and gives chemical facilities an opportunity to address those issues.

In 1989 Louisiana Operations decided to seek advice from a group of local citizens representing area residents. This decision formed one of the first Community Advisory Panels in the United States. The Plaquemine CAP is the oldest group among Dow's CAPs worldwide. Although members of this group serve in an advisory capacity, they also express unbiased, honest and candid opinions and criticisms reflecting the concerns of their communities.

Over the past 15 years, the CAP has served as a voice for the community. Its members, who are nominated and elected by the CAP, represent a cross-section of the Iberville and West Baton Rouge communities in terms of cultural diversity, age, education and employment. The CAP has suggested a variety of efforts including: Dow's West Bank Purchasing Policy, the Dow Community Hotline, railroad crossing lights on LA Highway 1, improvements to the CAER siren system, emergency response education for residents, community projects and local hiring.

The Dow CAP meets monthly, and the minutes from each meeting are available on our web site (www.dowlouisiana.com).