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Univar to acquire Magnablend; has history of chemical spills
A press release issued December 5, 2012 by Univar indicates that the global chemical company plans to acquire Magnablend before the end of the year.
The Wall Street Journal reported in September that Magnablend was on the market. However, Magnablend issued a press release to the Waxahachie Daily Light on October 3, 2012 denying Magnablend was for sale.
Univar is a large, global chemical company that has been purchasing other chemical companies rapidly. The company has over 260 distribution facilities in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Their portfolio includes over 11,000 chemical products including acids and bases, surfactants, glycols, inorganic compounds, alcohols, as well as general and other specialty chemicals used extensively throughout hundreds of end markets. Univar provides chemicals to a variety of industries that include oil and gas, agriculture, water treatment, environmental sciences, pharmaceutical, industrial cleaning, coatings and adhesives, food and personal care. Additionally, Univar is the largest distributor of pest control products and equipment in North America.
Univar is no stranger to environmental and community disasters.
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TCEQ alleges four more violations against Magnablend
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) issued a Notice of Enforcement to Magnablend on April 19, 2012 for four alleged violations relating to the October 3, 2011 fire at the Magnablend Central Facility located in Waxahachie, Texas.
Brett Shipp broke the story Wednesday on WFAA.
"Failure to comply with 30 TAC 101.5, by causing a traffic hazard to Highway 287, in Waxahachie, Texas on October 3, 2011, during the facility fire at Magnablend which caused Incident no. 160425."
"Failure to comply with the requirements of 30 TAC 101.201(g), by failing to submit an emissions event into STEERS within 48 hours of discovery of the event." The event was not submitted into the system until nine days after the incident.
"Failure to comply with the requirements of 30 TAC 106.261(a)(3), by exceeding the stated emissions limitations during Incident no. 160425."
"Failure to comply with 30 TAC 101.4, by creating nuisance conditions to nearby receptors during, and immediately following the fire which occurred on October 3, 2011, at the Magnablend Central Facility."
Read more...Magnablend cited by OSHA for seven serious violations; lives put at risk
OSHA issued a press release on Friday, March 30, 2012 with its findings from the October 3, 2011 fire at the Magnablend central facility on Hwy 287 in Waxahachie, Texas. KRLD 1080 broke the news at 2:00 p.m.
OSHA cited Magnablend with seven serious violations. OSHA considers serious violations to include a "substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known."
Read more...Magnablend: For sale and facing a $9.6 million lawsuit (update)
Magnablend's problems started in October 2011 with environmental violations, chemical leaks, fires, explosions and the total destruction of one of its plants in Waxahachie, Texas. The company's problems continued to mount as it faced fines related the fire and fought against residents to open a new plant in a rural agricultural area. Despite the massive opposition, the company proceeded with the move.
Now it appears the company is facing new problems with a recent lawsuit seeking $9.6 million for an alleged breach of contract and a report in the Wall Street Journal that the company is on the market.
Magnablend Facing $9.6 Million Lawsuit
A lawsuit was filed in United States District Court Eastern District of New York on Sept. 25, 2012 by Wego Chemical & Mineral Corp. against Magnablend Inc.
The suit alleges breach of contract for two purchase orders totalling $1,1040,000. Magnablend paid a 10% deposit, but the suit alleges that Magnablend failed to uphold the terms of the contracts, refused to take delivery of the product and refused to pay an outstanding balance of $9,666,000.
Wego Chemical & Mineral Corp. is requesting a minimum of $9,666,000 plus interest, costs and fees associated with the legal action and additional relief the Court deems just and proper.
Click here to read the court filings.
Magnablend For Sale
In related news, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sept. 20, 2012 that Magnablend Inc. is for sale and could fetch as much as $800 million. Click here to read the full Wall Street Journal article.
October 3, 2012 Update
The Waxahachie Daily Light reported Oct. 3, 2012 that Magnablend is not for sale. The company claims they are only seeking funding for additional growth.
 Lawsuit: Wego Chemical & Mineral Corp vs Magnablend (09/25/2012) | [ ] | 207 Kb |
Wyoming DEQ cites Magnablend for asbestos violations
Magnablend was cited by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality on February 15, 2012 for failure to remove Regulated Asbestos Containing Material (RACM) from the facility, failure to adequately wet RACM during stripping operations, failure to use trained individuals to strip, remove, handle or disturb the regulated asbestos containing waste material and failure to properly dispose of asbestos containing waste material. These violations occured in December 2011.
The notice sent to Magnablend also stated "Normally, the Department and this Division would refer these types of violations to the State Attorney General's Office for recovery of appropirate penalties. However, in this case, I'm issuing this Notice of Violation as a warning and to put you on notice that future violations of the asbestos regulatory requirements will result in enforcement action seeking penalties as settlement."
Read more...Legal response on behalf of one of The Dubious Five
The County and District Attorney of Ellis County filed a response to Carl Watson's Petition Requesting Depositions from Ellis County Judge Carol Bush with the 40th Judicial District Court of Ellis County on February 13, 2012.
On page five of the response, the County Attorney stated "As the presiding officer of the Ellis County Commissioners Court and the only member with a constituency comprised of the entire County, the Ellis County Judge has a vast array of daily legal and practical duties. Ellis County should not have its County Judge subjected to an interrogation to further a dubious investigation regarding litigation which has not commenced."
The County Attorney stated on page six "At each meeting of the Ellis County Commissioners Court, discussion and action is taken regarding matters affecting the general public. Each decision of the Ellis County Commissioners Court is likely to generate support and dissent. The jurisdiction of the 40th Judicial District Court should not be utilized as a weapon for a dissenter to harass a member of the Ellis County Commissioners Court under the ruse of furthering a fictitious pre-suit investigation."
Read more...More Articles...
- Ellis County Concerned Citizens Feb. 16 Townhall Meeting Audio
- The Magnablend battle will continue
- Magnablend's new history for Waxahachie
- Is Pendery qualified to run Magnablend?
- Commissioner Heath Sims: Ties to the chemical industry
- An honest look at Magnablend's SSC FAQ
- Magnablend relocation plans confirmed; meeting scheduled
- Reports that Magnablend is moving to SSC location on FM 1446
- TCEQ cites Magnablend Powder Plant for alleged violations
- Pour a big glass of Magnablend
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Latest Comments
- Had this been an employee of Ellis County, he/she would have been burned at the stake. If it concerns the DA's office, well y
- I see these articles and visit blogs and am very disgusted at what I read and see in Ellis County. With approximately 135,000
- Magnablend and a property tax increase are 2 of Judge Bush's finest accomplishments during her term.
- With a profit motive in the mix, the only ways MORE profits can be achieved it through 1) reduce expenses by telling the Coun
- Next election, please ask both of these individuals to LEAVE. Dodson thinks he works at the Courthouse (hardly ever at his pr
- How do you expect a person with NO management experience to manage an entire County.
- Great article, Dave With the present reasoning of WFC, Waxahachie could corner the market on Hazardous Liquid Waste Disposal
- Great article and research. The Deed Restrictions were placed by the Texas General Land Office. The same ten restrictions o
- Why is there so much secrecy in providing the public with the identity of the test results. Catch-22, the company will not r
