Regulatory Compliance

In 2004, Borax had four spills – two at its Boron Operations mining and refining facility and two at its Wilmington Operations refining and shipping facility.

At Boron, there were two separate incidents of pipelines breaking and releasing 35,000 gallons and 50,000 gallons of effluent respectively. The effluent was a very weak solution of boric acid and was not considered a hazardous waste. In both instances, Borax recovered the liquid and removed the affected soil to an appropriate waste site.

At Wilmington, both spills were the result of reactions in refinery production which set off sprinkler alarms. Sprinkler water mixed with the other liquor and solids, effectively classifying the liquids as hazardous waste. Both spills were less than 2,000 gallons, and both were reported to appropriate authorities and cleaned up immediately. These spills constituted regulatory violations, but were handled in such a way that they did not harm people or the environment.