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                                                                Exhibit 99.1
                               ENFORCEMENT NEWS

        UNITED STATES                               UNITED STATES
[SEAL]  DEPARTMENT OF                        [SEAL] ENVIRONMENTALPROTECTION
        JUSTICE                                     AGENCY

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                   FOR RELEASE: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1994


                   U. S. FILES MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR ACTION
                  AGAINST BORDEN CHEMICALS AND PLASTICS FOR
                 ILLEGAL HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
                 AND FOR CLEANUP OF CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER


                                 EPA/GWENDOLYN BROWN 202-260-1384
                                 DOJ/BERT BRANDENBURG 202-616-0189

        The U.S. government today filed a civil action against Borden 
Chemicals and Plastics Operating Limited Partnership and two related Borden
entities to compel Borden to clean up a release of cancer-causing and other
hazardous contaminants into the groundwater at its Geismar, La., facility. The
action also seeks a multi-million dollar penalty for the illegal shipment of
hundreds of thousands of pounds of hazardous waste to South Africa and the
operation of unpermitted hazardous waste facilities, including an incinerator.
The lawsuit, brought under federal hazardous waste and clean air laws, will
also force Borden Chemicals to comply fully with all environmental statutes.

        The Geismar facility manufacturers chemicals, including vinyl chloride,
ammonia, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is used for production of plastic
pipes and other plastic products. The facility is located on the Mississippi
River, in a highly industrialized area, with a predominantly African-American
population.

        "The Clinton Administration is committed to making sure that no company
will realize unfair profits from polluting anywhere in the U.S., but
particularly in minority and low-income communities that already face
disproportionate risks," said EPA Administrator Carol M. Browner.

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  "This case will send the message that those who attempt to circumvent the
hazardous waste laws do so at their peril," said U.S. Atorney General Janet
Reno. "For years, Borden stored and disposed of large quantities of hazardous
wastes in violation of the law. Such practices can only be stopped with
vigorous enforcement"

  The complaint against Borden Chemical and Plastics includes a claim for
"corective action" under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA),
under which the U.S. will be seeking to force Borden to evaluate the extent of,
and clean up, contamination of the groundwater. EPA has already determined that
the contaminants that have been released to the groundwater at the Geismar
facility include vinyl chloride, a know carcinogen, and ethylene dichloride, a
probable carcinogen. In addition, the lawsuit alleges that Borden operated a
hazaradous waste incinerator and other hazardous waste units without RCRA
permits.

  The United States also alleges that Borden shipped over 300,000 pounds of
hazaradous waste to a Thor Chemicals facility located in South Africa without
notifying EPA as required by RCRA. These violations prevented EPA from properly
verifying that the shipments were identified as hazaradous waste and whether or
not South Africa consented to accept the hazaradous waste. The Borden shipments
went to the Thor chemicals facility purportedly for recycling, but little or
none of the waste was actually recycled. Borden has already publicly
acknowledged that approximately 2,500 barrels containing mercury and vinyl
chloride wastes were found at the Thor facility with Borden labels.

  "Environmental pollution does not stop at U.S. borders, and we will use all
of our enforcement authorities against those who engage in the illegal 
international hazardous waste trade. By doing so, we will protect people from
mismanaged wastes generated in the United States, and eliminate any competitive
advantgage illegal exporters gain at the expense of U.S. companies that comply
with our environmental laws," Browner said.

  The complaint also alleges that Borden failed to meet Louisiana's standards
for controlling the emission into the air of urea particulates, or dust-like
particles. Particulate emissions can interfere with breathing and aggravate
exisiting respiratory and cardiovascular disease. In addition, the lawsuit
alleges that Borden violated the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act by failing to immediately notify authorities
following the 1990-91 release of thousands of pounds of hazardous  chemicals
(including vinyl chloride and ammonia).

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