Olin Corporation
Profile
Olin makes ammunition and chemicals. Founded in 1892, it is now headquartered in Clayton, Missouri. It is the largest supplier of small caliber ammunition to the U.S. military and one of the world’s largest manufacturers of chlorine, used in disinfection and a key ingredient in plastics like polyvinyl chloride or PVC. Historically chlorine was produced using mercury membrane technology at chlor-alkali plants which resulted in highly toxic mercury waste that manufacturers dumped into local environment. For example, Olin bought the Mathieson Alkali Works, which was responsible for dumping 100 pounds of toxic methylmercury daily into the Holston River in Virginia in the first half of the 20th century. Olin has two major chemical manufacturing facilities in Louisiana’s ‘Cancer Alley’ – a major industrial zone where crude oil is turned into fuel, plastics and other petrochemicals. Olin’s chlor-alkali plant in Plaquemine, Lousiana, has had several major leaks of toxic chlorine notably in 2016 and 2022, which have forced local residents to seek medical assistance. Similar pollution charges have been made against the companies chlor-alkali plants in Alabama and Nevada.
Copper alloys, Ammunition, Chlorine, Sodium hydroxide, Epoxies, Vinyls, Hydrochloric acid
Violations
| Top 5 Offense Groups (Groups Defined) | Penalty Total | Number of Records |
|---|---|---|
| environment-related offenses | $4,408,570 | 23 |
| safety-related offenses | $628,246 | 65 |
| employment-related offenses | $17,964 | 1 |
(September 30, 2022)
Stories
Activism
Close the Olin Chlor Alkali Chemical Plant in Henderson NV
Eric Lier | Change.org | March 1, 2021
We, the undersigned, demand the Olin Chlor Alkali chemical plant located in the heart of Henderson, Nevada, be closed and the site be cleared of any toxic chemicals that have contaminated the area.
- Amnesty International
- Center for Health, Environment & Justice
- Ecology Center
- Greenpeace
- International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal
- Pesticide Action Network
- Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families
- A Community Voice
- Alliance for Affordable Energy
- Climate Reality New Orleans
- Coalition Against Death Alley
- Healthy Gulf
- Justice and Beyond
- Louisiana Bucket Brigade
- Louisiana League of Conscious Voters
- New Orleans Office Sierra Club
- Poor Peoples Campaign
- SouthWings
- Sunrise Movement, New Orleans
- RISE St. James
- 350 New Orleans
& Lawsuits
Olin Corp. Sued Over Retirement Plan Administrative Fees, Funds
Jacklyn Wille | Bloomberg Law | November 10, 2021
Olin Corp. was sued in federal court by a proposed class of workers who say the Missouri-based ammunition maker’s $930 million retirement plan charges excessive record keeping fees while offering expensive and poorly performing investment options.
Investigations launched after chlorine leak in McIntosh
Brendan Kirby | Fox 10 News | August 12, 2020
Government and internal investigations have been launched following a chemical leak Tuesday that sent two workers to the hospital and triggered a shelter-in-place order.
Union Defends Move To Stop Olin From Firing Employee
Michael Phillis | Law 360 | July 17, 2020
Union Defends Move To Stop Olin From Firing Employee. A union has told an Illinois federal court that Olin Corp. was just frustrated with an arbitrator's refusal to let the company fire an employee ...
Olin, OxyChem Must Face Cartel Pricing Suit
Competition Policy International | March 30, 2020
Olin, Occidental Chemical, and three other top manufacturers of industrial-grade lye can’t dodge claims that they conspired on 13 separate price increases since 2015, a federal judge in Buffalo, NY, ruled.
Environmental Impact
OLIN CHEMICAL WILMINGTON, MA Cleanup Activities
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | April, 2006
The Olin Chemical Superfund Site (Site) is comprised of the 53-acre property at 51 Eames Street in Wilmington, Massachusetts (Olin Property or Property) and adjoining off-Property areas that have been impacted by contaminant releases from manufacturing and waste disposal activities formerly conducted at the Property.
PERI Pollution Indexes
Based on United States Environmental Protection Agency data ranking the top 100 worst polluters.
& Relations
African American woman sues Olin over alleged discrimination
Marian Johns | Madison Record | November 1, 2021
An African American female alleges Olin Corporation discriminated against her by paying her less and promoting co-workers with less experience and qualifications.
Financials
Note: Most recent list is not always the most complete list.
- Olin Corporation Subsidiaries (via U.S. SEC 2020)
- Olin Corporation Subsidiaries (via U.S. SEC 2018)
- Olin Corporation Subsidiaries (via U.S. SEC 2017)
Croctail Subsidiary Tool using the CorpWatch API - This API extracts the subsidiary relationship information from Exhibit 21 of companies' 10-K filings with the US SEC.
- CIK numbers link to SEC database (EDGAR)
- Section 21 links to SEC list of companies.
- Olin Corporation Croctail Profile
Click here for the latest data.
Political Influence
Open Secrets - Tracks corporate lobbying of US politicians.
OpenSecrets.org Profile of Olin Corporation
Import & Export Data
ImportYeti - Shipping Tracking Tool - Bill of ladings are public information that are too cost prohibitive, challenging to obtain and difficult to use for the average joe. ImportYeti's goal is to solve that problem.
- ImportYeti Profile of Olin Corporation
& Evasion
Information on Federal Contractors With Offshore Subsidiaries
U.S. General Accounting Office | February 2004
Over Half of the 100 Largest Publicly Traded Federal Contractors Report Having a Subsidiary in a Tax Haven Country, Including Some that Report Having a Foreign Sales Corporation in a Tax Haven Country:
Olin reducing production at Louisiana plant
St. Louis Post Dispatch | May 18, 2021
Olin Corp. said on Tuesday it is shutting down some chlor-alkali production at its Plaquemine, Louisiana plant by June 1.
Procurement
Olin Corporation contracts with the U.S. Federal Government (via USA Spending)