LyondellBasell Recognized for Informing Community

HOUSTON, July 6, 2011 – LyondellBasell has been recognized for excellence in communicating with its neighbors by earning the 2011 Grand Excalibur Award from the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

LyondellBasell put in place an extensive communications program to raise awareness in advance of a building implosion in 2010.  The company’s objective was to reduce public concerns that might result when a structure was detonated at its plant in the Pasadena Industrial District in Bayport last November.  The company was praised by local authorities, the media, industrial neighbors and community members for providing advance notice of the planned detonation. 

“We did not want our neighbors to be concerned if they heard the noise from this building being demolished,” said Gayden Cooper of LyondellBasell. “We developed layers of communications and partnered with local governments to raise awareness of what we would be doing to avoid any surprises to people living around or working in the Bayport area.  We are pleased to say that we were successful."

LyondellBasell earned three Gold Excalibur and three Silver Excalibur awards from PRSA for communications excellence in categories including crisis communications, issues management and community relations. The Grand Excalibur is PRSA’s top award, the best of show. For the year, LyondellBasell has received 14 awards for communications excellence from PRSA, International Association of Business Communicators and the American Marketing Association.

LyondellBasell has eight manufacturing plants in the Houston area including Channelview, La Porte, Pasadena, Houston and Chocolate Bayou.  The facilities provide jobs for 3,700 employees and 2,000 contractors and are operated by LyondellBasell subsidiaries Lyondell Chemical Company, Equistar Chemicals and Houston Refining.

Media Contact:  Gayden Cooper, office, 713-209-1341; cell 713-822-3724; pager 888-477-0098
Gayden.Cooper@LyondellBasell.com