Rhodia, Environmental Agencies Open Tide Gateat Peyton Slough, Returning Ecosystem to Historic Conditions

MARTINEZ, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
Tidal waters from the Carquinez Strait flowed back into the freshwater wetlands
of the Peyton Slough and surrounding marshland today for the first time in more
than 100 years. The comingling of brackish and fresh water is expected to return
the sensitive ecosystem to the natural ebb and flow of tidal waters to support
unique aquatic habitats that characterized the marshland`s historic conditions.

Officials from specialty chemical producer Rhodia Inc. and numerous local, state
and federal government agencies and interest groups today inaugurated operation
of a newly constructed, two-directional tide gate that will allow tidal waters
to reach the sensitive marshlands. The opening of the tide gate represents
another positive impact from the multi-year restoration and reconstruction of
the Peyton Slough.

"Today marks the accomplishment of another benefit from the Peyton Slough
project," according to Mary Brown, Rhodia`s senior project manager. "We
anticipate that about 200 acres of marshland will be enhanced with the
re-introduction of tidal waters. It is not just our project site that will
benefit.

"Operation of the tide gate will help to ensure the long-term environmental
quality of this ecosystem," she said. "It`s a significant step."

Brown also acknowledged the technical contributions of many government agencies
and interested parties who participated in years of environmental and regulatory
dialog before and during construction.

"This project has demonstrated the tremendous potential of private and public
sector cooperation toward a common goal," she said. Her assessment was echoed by
Bruce Wolfe, executive officer of the San Francisco Regional Water Quality
Control Board; Karl Malamud-Roam, environmental projects manager, Contra Costa
Mosquito and Vector Control District; and Dave Contreras, executive director of
Mt. View Sanitary District.

All three agency heads participated in today`s ceremonies which also included
representatives of other public and private interest groups. The other
participating agencies included the City of Martinez, San Francisco Bay
Conservation and Development Commission, the California State Lands Commission,
the California Department of Fish and Game, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration and other local, regional and statewide agencies.

Environmental monitoring of the slough and adjacent marshlands will continue for
another seven years. This monitoring will include inspecting and gathering field
data about wetland re-vegetation, animal habitats, marine life, tidal flows and
other environmental priorities targeted by the overall Peyton Slough restoration
plan. Water quality data will also be gathered.

The Peyton Slough drains a marsh system and watershed surrounded by refineries,
industrial terminals and a Rhodia manufacturing plant. Two years of construction
at the site (2004-06) resulted in realigning the slough to the east, and capping
old slough sediments containing copper and zinc to prevent them from impacting
water quality and aquatic life in the Carquinez Strait that drains to San
Francisco Bay.

As a result of the slough realignment, one of the Bay Area`s longstanding toxic
"hot spots" from a bygone industrial era was eliminated.

Rhodia operates a sulfuric acid regeneration plant adjacent to the Peyton
Slough. The present-day Rhodia operations are unrelated to the historic
industrial activities conducted by other parties at the site, which contributed
to the old slough`s copper and zinc content.

Rhodia is an international chemical company resolutely committed to sustainable
development. As a leader in its businesses, the Group aims to improve its
customers` performance through the pursuit of operational excellence and its
ability to innovate. Structured around six Enterprises, Rhodia is the partner of
major players in the automotive, refining, electronics, flavors and fragrances,
health, personal and home care markets, consumer goods and industrial markets.
The Group employs around 14,500 people worldwide and generated sales of €4.8
billion in 2008. Rhodia is listed on Euronext Paris.

For more information, please visit our website: www.rhodia.com.

Rhodia Inc.
David Klucsik, 609-860-3616
Mobile: 609-516-6764

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