Raina Announces New Pollution Abatement - Case Study Example

Raina Announces New Pollution Abatement Initiative at Blackrock Plant during the Blackrock City Council Hearing Blackrock, Iowa, April 12, 2014 – Owned by the parent company Raina Inc., the Carborundum plant in Blackrock, has made a major announcement on its pollution reduction strategy through its manager, Leslie Sludge, who appeared at the Blackrock City Council hearing on April 11. The manager of Blackrock Plant, Leslie Sludge, announced that the company had adopted a new initiative that is underway, in order to abate the high level of pollution caused by the plant. He also addressed the effects of the plant on the citizens of Blackrock, as well as the effects on the environment. Going by the words of Leslie Sludge, so far, the Blackrock Carborundum plant has utilized $5.3 million in efforts aimed at reducing the high level of pollution caused by the plant. In the new initiative to reduce the high level of pollution, the Blackrock Carborundum plant has already committed an additional $2 million. This will be used in pollution-control activities that are spread in the next three months. The plant anticipates that a large part of this money will be utilized on removal of noxious particles from the air and water waste. Reliable sources at Raina inform that Leslie Sludge will make a major contribution towards the improvements that are expected to take place at the Blackrock Carborundum plant. Sludge is not new to environmental issues, as he is familiar with pollution problems. Therefore, it seems that Raina, Inc. has prepared an effective solution. Sludge, who has recently become the manager of the Blackrock Carborundum, will be resourceful, owing to his experience in plant management. In the past, Sludge has worked as the plant manager of Fetid Reservoir in New Hampshire. While working at Fetid Reservoir in Hampshire about five years ago, Raina received a Presidential Award from the Environmental Protection Agency for its "concern for pollution abatement. Sludge had been successful in converting the plant from one of the most pollutant-laden plants in the system, to become the cleanest plant in the system. Leslie Sludge has been manager of the Blackrock plant for two months. Mr. Sludge is the author of the book, Fly Fishing Made Easy. “The new pollution-abatement program will begin in October,” said Sludge. With regard to the Blackrock plant, Leslie Sludge looks forward to "real progress in terms of clean water and clean air" as early as two years from today” Sludge confirmed. The bulk of the money budgeted for the new pollution abatement program will be spent on two globe refractors, which purify waste destined to be deposited in surrounding waterways, and four hyperventilation systems, which remove noxious particles dispersed into the air from smokestacks. For this major reason, Raina has decided to employ 100 more workers in the plant. Raina will also be spending an additional $2 million for pollution-abatement facilities on top of the $5.3 million already spent on improving its pollution-control equipment. Initially, Raina Inc. had planned to delay its pollution-abatement program. However, the company has had to speed the program, as it turned out to be an urgent issue. This is because of the 500 complaint calls in the past three months protesting the pollution conditions of the company. In addition, citizens have complained about black smoke spewing from the plant’s smokestacks and the infiltration of waste products into neighbouring streams. One private citizen called to complain about the "noxious smoke" fouling the environment. Another one called to protest the "smoke problem" that was destroying the zinnias and other flowers in the area. In addition, a report reached the plant that 700 people had signed a petition against the Raina plant’s pollution of Zeus Creek. Furthermore, an internal Raina study also indicated that Blackrock was the “most pollutant laden” of all Raina’s plants nationwide. On the other hand, one radio station editorialized that “the time has come to force area plants to act on solving pollution problems. All this needed the company to act urgently, and it did so by initiating the new pollution control programme. Therefore, when Leslie Sludge was called upon by the Blackrock City Council as the first witness before the public hearing, during the water and air pollution ordinance for the city, there was no declining. “Raina, Inc. has decided to move ahead with this program at this time because of its long-standing responsibility for keeping the Blackrock environment clean and in response to growing community concern over achieving the objective,” Sludge, the plant manager noted. Sludge also noted that Raina was concerned about environmental problems, but profits were still what kept the company running. The former manager of the plant was not keen on pollution control; hence this painted a negative picture of the plant. This therefore led the company to fire former plant manager in July for his "flagrant disregard for the environment." There was also the issue of misappropriation of funds meant for pollution control in the company. The company therefore, lost about $10,000 to fraudulent dealings, and this has not been recovered to date. Therefore, being part of the mismanagement in the past, the company has suffered negative publicity and financial loses. In addition, the Blackrock plant was slated to be the subject of a critical report from the Private Environmental Stabilization Taskforce (PEST), a private environmental group. PEST's report, "The Foulers," was to discuss "the 10 largest manufacturing polluters in the nation." This therefore, has contributed to this issue being addressed with emergency in the company. Apart from interest in the environment, the company is committed to improve the quality of living in Blackrock not only by decreasing the level of pollution but also by committing itself to social programs. Presently the plant employs one hundred physically challenged workers and has just completed the installation of special ramps for employees with motion disabilities. Raina is the oldest plant in Blackrock and was built in 1900. Raina's Blackrock plant started as a converted garage, manufacturing plate glass. However, today, the plant has extended to cover 14 acres of land. In addition, at the time, when starting its operations, Raina had only 13 employees. On the contrast, the Blackrock Plant today has become an employer to ten thousand people. This makes Raina the largest single employer in Blackrock. However, there are expectations by Raina that the pollution control initiative in Blackrock Plant will result in employment of more people in the plant, approximately 100. In addition, the Blackrock plant is also the largest single supplier of plate glass and commercial panes in the United States. About The Raina Inc. The Raina Inc. is a carborundum plant. It is located in Blackrock, IA. This plant was established in the year 1900, where it began its operations as a converted garage, manufacturing plate glass. Today, this company specializes in plate glass and commercial panes. It has expanded over the years to become the largest supplier of plate glass and commercial panes in the country. The company also boasts of being the single largest employer in Blackrock. Presently, this plant has employed 10, 000 people. Apart from able-bodied employees, this plant also employees 100 workers with disability. This company is highly concerned with the environment, and continues to engage in pollution-control initiatives. Five years ago, the company received a presidential award from the Environmental Protection Agency for its concern for pollution abatement. For more information about this company, see www.theraina.org Read More