20 March 2008

LaSalle/Peru, IL – Carus Corporation participated in a work status review meeting conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in March. In addition to regulators, the consultants contracted to work on the Matthiessen and Hegeler (M&H) Zinc Company site and the adjacent Carus Corporation property shared the results of the fieldwork that were performed at both sites last fall. In addition, work plans for 2008 were discussed and agreed upon.

M&H began smelting operations on their site in the 1860’s, more than 50 years before Carus Corporation was even established. Carus has always been owned and operated separately from M&H Zinc Smelter and has never been involved in the operations at the M&H site. They did, however, purchase 38 acres of the 160-acre site in the early 1970’s that included a portion of the slagheap that was generated by the M&H smelting process. At the time of the purchase, the potential for contamination was neither recognized nor understood. Carus did not generate any of the contamination at the slag pile, and they do not believe the slag pile poses a risk to the environment.

The portion of the site Carus has responsibility for is referred to as Operating Unit 1 (OU1). Since Carus also agreed to investigate the Little Vermillion River area, it is considered part of OU1. Carus is working closely with the U.S. EPA to provide data to determine whether there is any impact to human health and the environment from OU1. The remainder of the site, Operating Unit 2 (OU2), falls under the complete jurisdiction of the U.S. EPA. Carus is not responsible for any activities at OU2 and any information related to OU2 will come directly from the U.S. EPA.

Significant fieldwork was completed at OU1 last fall. Testing looked at all aspects of the site including geology, groundwater, past and current industrial activity, location, etc. Deep and shallow soil sampling has been completed. There is very little groundwater in the area, but monitoring of groundwater will continue. Nothing has been found in the soil or groundwater that would indicate a risk from the slag pile. Some pieces of slag have been found in the river so additional river testing will take place in 2008. With all of the data that is collected, a Risk Assessment will be conducted to determine what, if any, additional work or remedial activities will be required or if there are any future land use restrictions.

Carus Corporation, founded in LaSalle, IL, in 1915, is a leading manufacturer of permanganates, which Carus manufactures mainly for environmental applications: to improve the quality of drinking water, to treat municipal and industrial wastewater, in air purification systems, and in the remediation (clean-up) of contaminated sites. Carus Corporation is a long-time member of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and is certified through the ACC Responsible Care® Management System.