PR: Weyerhaeuser Closes Longview Chlor-Alkali Facility

[ttweed@wildrockies.org (Tony Tweedale)]

This leaves GP's Bellingham WA chlor-alkalie plant and whom else's in the
NW USA?
---


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Wednesday January 6, 4:31 pm Eastern Time

Company Press Release

Weyerhaeuser Closes Longview
Chlor-Alkali Facility

Completes Exit from Chemical Manufacturing

FEDERAL WAY, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 6, 1999--Weyerhaeuser Company today
announced it would close its chlor-alkali plant in Longview, Wash. as part
of the long-range
plan by the forest products firm to narrow its portfolio and streamline
operations.

Following closure of the plant by the end of the first quarter,
Weyerhaeuser will no longer
operate chemical facilities.

The company will report a charge associated with the closure. When combined
with previously
announced changes to the company's British Columbia lumber facilities and
the streamlining of
pulp and paper operations company-wide, this will result in an after-tax
charge of
approximately $45 million against fourth quarter earnings. Weyerhaeuser
will announce its
fourth quarter results on Jan. 20.

Approximately 100 jobs will be eliminated by the Longview closure. Laid-off
employees will
receive 60 days notice or pay consistent with plant-closure requirements
and have access to
outplacement services provided by Weyerhaeuser. Changes to the British
Columbia lumber
facilities affect around 200 jobs while the pulp and paper streamlining
efforts affected
approximately 460 employees.

``Today's announcement is part of an ongoing process to narrow our
portfolio, streamline our
operations and improve overall use of capital,'' said Steven R. Rogel,
president and chief
executive officer.

Seeking to improve its environmental performance, the Longview mill, as
well as other
Weyerhaeuser facilities and the pulp and paper industry, has moved away
from using chlorine
as the principal chemical in the pulp bleaching process. The plastics
industry, the other major
user of chlorine, is oversupplied in the world markets. Weyerhaeuser chose
to close the
facility because of current market conditions and the need to invest
significant capital to
ensure continued safe operation of the plant.

Weyerhaeuser Company (NYSE:WY - news), one of the world's largest
integrated forest products
companies, was incorporated in 1900. In 1997, it had sales of $11.2 billion
and has offices or
operations in 12 countries and customers worldwide. Weyerhaeuser is
principally engaged in
the growing and harvesting of timber; the manufacture, distribution and
sale of forest
products; and real estate construction, development and related activities.
Additional
information about Weyerhaeuser's businesses, products or practices is
available at
www.weyerhaeuser.com.

Contact:

     Weyerhaeuser Company
     Media: Bruce Amundson, 253/924-3047
         or
     Analysts: Dick Taggart, 253/924-2058
     http://www.businesswire.com/cnn/wy.htm


 More Quotes and News:
                                          Weyerhaeuser Co (NYSE:WY - news)
 Related News Categories: environmental, paper/forrest




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