At Dow, our goal is to remain a welcome and wanted neighbour within the community, contributing to the quality of life. Our success and that of the communities in which we operate are mutually inclusive — economically, environmentally and socially. These three elements are the foundation of our Triple Bottom Line philosophy and are integral to Dow’s sustainability. We are committed to participating in relationships and dialogue within the community, and your feedback is essential in helping us make decisions that are mutually beneficial. I invite you to contact us with your questions, concerns and suggestions for improvement.

For Dow Sarnia, the year 2004 was one of continued change — we had our share of successes as well as disappointments. Amid a challenging economic climate — oil and natural gas prices remaining above historic levels — we remained focused on keeping the site competitive for the long term even in the face of some tough decisions. When Dow’s global Epoxy Products and Intermediates Business announced it would close the Sarnia Epoxy plant, it reflected a decision that was based on worldwide epoxy production capabilities and changing market dynamics. This sort of business evaluation process is one that will continue at Dow globally, and we as a small site work to ensure not only Dow’s competitive position but the appropriate allocation of resources to serve the businesses no matter where they reside.

The year was also a time of positive accomplishment for our site and one that speaks to sustainability. The end of 2004 brought the conclusion of the third and final phase of our in-stream hydraulic vacuum operations to remove historically contaminated sediment from the bottom of the St. Clair River adjacent to the Sarnia Site. Consistent with the two previous phases of operations, continuous monitoring records confirmed that regulated drinking water quality standards were consistently maintained throughout the 2004 project. We are proud of our environmental stewardship and the successful conclusion of a project that began in 1989 with Dow’s commitment to the “Elimination of Spills and Harmful Discharges to the St. Clair River.” Since 1998 the Sarnia Site has had no reportable incidents to the river. It’s our commitment to environment, health and safety.

As Operations Director I have three key areas of focus which will continue to drive the operation of our site:

1. Environmental, health and safety performance. No one gets injured and no environmental incidents.
2. Site competitiveness – keeping the Site in good financial health and positioning it to provide the best value for Dow; and
3. As a smaller site, how we can continue to organize our workforce to ensure we concentrate on the work that truly matters from the perspective of our on-site businesses, and the local community.

I am committed to the community of Sarnia and will continue to do my part to lead the Sarnia Site within our new business reality as a small site, and in a way that makes you proud to call us your neighbour.

Glen Mutscher
Operations Director
Dow Sarnia Operations