FocusUS chems pour money into lobbying

08 September 2007 00:37  [Source: ICIS news]

By Brian Ford

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--Top US chemicals producers and trade groups spent more than $13.6m (€9.9m) to lobby Congress and the executive branch during the first half of the year on issues ranging from chemical security to climate change issues, according to records filed with the US Senate.

Federal law requires lobbyists to disclose activities that could influence executive or legislative members. Lobbyists had until mid-August to file disclosure reports for the first six months of 2007.

Renewable fuels, chemical plant security, climate change, taxes, environmental remediation, foreign trade and research and development (R&D) were among the issues discussed by lobbyists with federal and state legislators and administrators, according to disclosure forms.

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) reported it spent $1,120,000 to lobby Congress on issues such as climate change, children’s health, the Energy Efficiency Promotion Act of 2007 and plant security, among other things.

The chemical council also paid $17,800 to lobbying firm Bracewell & Giuliani to discuss and track a petrochemical industry tax issue, and paid Crowell & Moring International $30,000 to discuss a proposed ozone national ambient air quality standard, according to the lobbyists.

The National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA) reported it spent $536,020 to lobby on a wide range of topics, including pollution guidelines, energy measures, state biofuels mandates and chemical facility security.

Lobbyist firm Bracewell & Giuliani reported it received $240,000 to lobby for the NPRA, while Ryan Phillips Utrecht & MacKinnon said it received $60,000.

The top 10 US chemical producers, as categorised by their annual revenue in 2006, include Dow Chemical, DuPont, ExxonMobil, Lyondell, Chevron Phillips, PPG Industries, Huntsman, Praxair and Eastman.

Dow Chemical reported it spent $1.9m to lobby on issues including energy policy, effluent guidelines, environmental remediation, pension funding and the Surface Transportation and Rail Security Act of 2007, among other things.

Dow also paid lobbying firms $260,000, according to filings.

DuPont, meanwhile, spent or paid lobbyists a total of $447,500 to lobby Congress on issues including food biotechnology, agricultural appropriations, patent reform, the Korean Free Trade Agreement and antitrust laws.

Lobbying activities by ExxonMobil Chemical were not specifically reported, but its parent company, ExxonMobil, spent $6,520,000, according to filings.

“ExxonMobil - like many corporations, trade associations, labour unions, and special interest groups - tracks proposed legislation so that we may effectively advocate the company’s position when necessary,” the company told ICIS news.

“ExxonMobil Corporation's activities include oil and natural gas production, fuels and lubricants refining and marketing, and petrochemicals manufacturing and marketing,” the company continued. “Our disclosure report filed with Congress represents our lobbying activities and expenditures across the entire corporation, of which our chemical operations are one part.”

Likewise, lobbying activities by or on behalf of Chevron Phillips were not reported. Company spokesman Brian Cain said the company relies on the NPRA for its lobbying efforts.

Chevron and ConocoPhillips, who each own half of Chevron Phillips, spent a combined $6,995,000 in lobbying activities, according to the filings.

 

Company/Organisation	Lobbyist Spending
American Chemistry Council	$1,167,800
National Petrochemical & Refiners Association	$836,020
Dow Chemical	$2,160,000
DuPont	$447,500
ExxonMobil Chemical	$6,520,000 (amount spent by ExxonMobil Corporation)
Chevron Phillips	Company utilises NPRA for lobbying; $6,995,000 amount spent by parent companies Chevron and ConocoPhillips
Lyondell	$242,000
Huntsman	$190,000
Praxair (includes Praxair Healthcare Services)	$720,000
Air Products (includes Air Products Healthcare)	$520,000
Eastman Chemical	$430,000
PPG Industries	$440,000

 

($1.00 = €0.73)

 

By: Brian Ford
+1 713 525 2653

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