A Tale of Corporate Greed and Environmental Devastation

In the quiet neighborhoods of North Tonawanda, New York, and along the banks of the Delaware River, a sinister blue dust once settled on windowsills, baseball fields, and freshly fallen snow.

This dust, now known to be deadly asbestos, was the calling card of Occidental Chemical Corporation (OxyChem), a subsidiary of oil giant Occidental Petroleum.

For decades, OxyChem’s reckless pursuit of profits has left a trail of environmental destruction and human suffering, raising serious questions about corporate accountability and the true cost of unchecked industrial pollution.

The story of OxyChem is a stark reminder of the dangers of corporate greed and the urgent need for stricter environmental regulations. In North Tonawanda, at least 10 lawsuits allege that OxyChem’s plastics plant released asbestos into the surrounding community, causing mesothelioma and other life-threatening illnesses among residents[8].

Meanwhile, in New Castle, Delaware, the company’s former chlorine manufacturing facility has left a toxic legacy of contaminated soil, groundwater, and sediment[5].

Decades of Pollution and Public Health Risks

These cases are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of corporate misconduct. OxyChem has faced numerous environmental violations, including 13 cited by the EPA in 2003 at its Pottstown, Pennsylvania facility[7].

The violations spanned multiple environmental protection acts, highlighting the company’s systemic disregard for environmental safeguards and public health.

The Economic Fallout

The economic fallout from OxyChem’s actions is staggering.

Communities bear the brunt of cleanup costs, healthcare expenses, and diminished property values. In New Castle, the EPA has had to step in with a multi-million dollar cleanup plan, effectively socializing the costs of OxyChem’s pollution while the company’s profits remain privatized[5].

This is a textbook example of how neoliberal capitalism allows corporations to externalize their costs onto society while internalizing profits.

The wealth disparity created by such corporate behavior is stark.

While OxyChem’s parent company, Occidental Petroleum, boasts billions in annual revenue, affected communities struggle with the long-term health and economic consequences of industrial pollution. This disparity underscores the need for a more equitable economic system that prioritizes public welfare over shareholder returns.

According to its 2024 annual report to investors, the leadership of OxyChem were collectively paid almost $40 million. $15 million of which was to its CEO and President. More information (including her picture) is down below.

Corporate Ethics and Regulatory Failures

OxyChem’s actions raise serious questions about corporate ethics and the effectiveness of current regulatory frameworks. Despite facing numerous lawsuits and EPA citations, the company continues to operate with relative impunity. Its recent fight against a proposed federal ban on asbestos, despite overwhelming evidence of its dangers, demonstrates a callous disregard for public health in favor of profit margins[8].

The corporation’s approach to sustainability and corporate social responsibility rings hollow in light of its actions.

Sustainability Claims vs. Reality

While OxyChem’s parent company, Occidental Petroleum, touts its commitment to environmental stewardship and community prosperity[6], the reality on the ground tells a different story.

This disconnect between corporate messaging and actual behavior highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in corporate sustainability reporting.

The Need for Systemic Change and Accountability

As consumers and citizens, we must remain skeptical of corporate promises to change. The incentive structure of our current economic system often rewards short-term profit maximization over long-term sustainability and public welfare. Until this fundamental misalignment is addressed, corporations like OxyChem will likely continue to prioritize shareholder profits over environmental and public health concerns.

The OxyChem saga is a call to action for stronger corporate accountability measures, more robust environmental protections, and a reimagining of our economic system.

We need policies that prioritize the wellbeing of communities and the environment over corporate profits. This includes stricter enforcement of existing regulations, harsher penalties for violations, and a regulatory framework that holds corporations financially responsible for the full lifecycle of their products and operations.

Moreover, we must empower affected communities with the legal and financial resources to stand up to corporate polluters. The David-versus-Goliath nature of many environmental lawsuits often leaves communities at a disadvantage when facing off against well-funded corporate legal teams.

The story of OxyChem serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked corporate power and the urgent need for systemic change.

As we grapple with the escalating climate crisis and growing wealth inequality, cases like this underscore the interconnectedness of environmental justice, economic justice, and public health.

Only through concerted action and fundamental reforms can we hope to create a more equitable and sustainable future – one where corporations are held accountable for their actions and the wellbeing of people and planet takes precedence over profit.


Vicki Hollub (CEO, President, and Board Member of OxyChem) has been working for the company for more than 40 years.

Vicki’s psychopathy ensured that she was paid $15 million in the year 2023. She’s also a director at Lockheed Martin.

Robert Peterson is an Executive VP at OxyChem. He was the CFO of OxyChem from 2020-2023 and has been with the company since 1996. He was paid $4.6 million in 2023.
Sunil Matthew is the current CFO of OxyChem. He joined OxyChem in 2004 and was paid $4.5 million in 2023.
Sylvia J. Kerrigan is the CLO of OxyChem. She used to be an executive at Marathon

Sylvia Kerrigan’s LinkedIn is https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylviakerrigan

Ken Dillon is in charge of 400,000 barrels of oil being produced every single day. He’s been with OxyChem for more than 30 years. For that work, Ken Dillon was paid more than $5 million in the year 2023.
Richard L Jackson leads the development and operations of Oxy’s domestic oil and gas business. He was paid more than $5 million in 2023.
Jeff Simmons is a senior VP and CPO who directs Oxy’s activities in the Gulf of Mexico. He was paid $4.3 million in 2023
Karen Sinard is the VP of Environmental and Sustainability at OxyChem. She started working for OxyChem in 2010 and readers who understand how chronological time works will realize that this means she was with OxyChem during all of the previously mentioned acts of pollution

Karen Sinard has a moderately active LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-sinard-3825893



sources:
[1] attached PDF
[2] attached PDF
[3] attached PDF
[4] attached PDF
[5] https://www.epa.gov/hwcorrectiveactioncleanups/hazardous-waste-cleanup-occidental-chemical-corporation-new-castle
[6] https://www.oxy.com/sustainability/
[7] https://www.epa.gov/archive/epapages/newsroom_archive/newsreleases/473a0807898c326f852570d60070fe1a.html
[8] https://www.propublica.org/article/lawsuits-say-oxychem-released-asbestos-north-tonawanda
[9] https://ecology.wa.gov/spills-cleanup/contamination-cleanup/cleanup-sites/occidental-chemical-co