Clean up Underway at Barton Solvents' Site.

Company Gets Permission to Move Ahead

VALLEY CENTER, Kan. -- Please replace the release with the following corrected version due to multiple revisions.

The corrected release reads:

CLEAN UP UNDERWAY AT BARTON SOLVENTS' SITE

Company Gets Permission to Move Ahead

Barton Solvents officials announced today that the cleanup process at its Valley Center, Kansas, distribution site can begin in earnest. The company has been notified by the U.S Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) and insurance investigators that the on-site investigations of the facility's tank farm, which was destroyed by fire on July 17, have reached a stage where demolition and clean-up can commence.

"Since the fire, we've had the opportunity to observe the kindness of our neighbors first hand, which has been a tremendous experience," said David Casten, president of Barton Solvents, Inc. "Moving forward, there is a great deal of work to be done, but this is an important next step for all of us." This process will include the dismantling of the tank farm and debris removal.

This action does not mean the investigations are complete. It simply means that the evaluators have reached the stage in the review and data collection process to allow for the demolition of the site.

Additionally, Casten said the company will continue to conduct cleanup operations in a way that ensures safety and protects the environmental integrity of the property and surrounding neighborhood. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) will supervise the cleanup and remediation process to ensure protection of the community and the environment.

"We are grateful to the KDHE for their continued support. With their assistance, we will be able to sustain the integrity of the site, making sure all of the steps we take are completed and documented according to their specifications and standards," said Casten.

Casten noted that residents in the nearby neighborhood may notice heavier traffic over the next few days as debris is removed. "We will do all we can to mitigate the traffic for area residents," he said.

In the meantime, Barton Solvents continues to work to reimburse citizens and businesses displaced by the fire. The company has established a Wichita phone number for businesses filing displacement claims. Those who have property or business displacement questions should contact Jarrod Kieffer at Stinson, Morrison, and Hecker, LLC in Wichita, Kansas, at 316-265-8800.

"We know there are still a few residents who were not able to attend one of our reimbursement sessions. We can help them out immediately if they would directly contact the Wichita phone number," said Casten. To date, 1,491 checks have been issued to Valley Center residents to repay them for meal and lodging costs related to the fire.

About Barton Solvents, Inc.: Founded in 1938, Barton Solvents, Inc. is a family-owned company based in Des Moines, Iowa. It is a wholesale distributor of industrial solvents and related products. Barton Solvents serves 13 Midwestern states from six full-service locations.