Executive Summary

During March and April 2001, a community audit was conducted within the Sarnia-Lambton area to assess prevailing perceptions of NOVA Chemicals within those communities surrounding our facilities. Conducted by Wirthlin Worldwide Research Consultants, the audit was designed to determine our reputation as a corporate citizen.

To accomplish this objective:

• 50 community opinion leaders were surveyed (business leaders, media, political leaders, regulatory leaders, medical leaders)
• 300 from the general public
• 234 employees

Audit results indicate:

• 88% of those surveyed are very optimistic about the direction in which the community is headed.
• 26% are especially concerned about the economic slowdown.
• 22% are concerned about young people moving away in search of good jobs.
• 10% feel the single most important problem facing Sarnia-Lambton is environmental issues.
• 10% feel the emergency response system is the single most important issue in Sarnia-Lambton.
• NOVA Chemicals is rated well overall and enjoys very high familiarity ratings among community leaders.
• We are viewed as a company that has a strong economic and social impact on the community.
• Areas with the most room for improvement are health, safety and environmentalism.

Key Findings

• In the eyes of community leaders, truly outstanding companies are involved in the community and treat their employees well. NOVA Chemicals is mentioned most often as a company the local community that comes closest to having these traits.
• The audit revealed that the community believes our record for health, safety and environmentalism are areas we need to improve upon.
• In terms of involvement in and contribution to the community, we are given a fairly high score. Community leaders give us a higher than average favorability rating.
• Everyone surveyed was aware of the environmental incidents that happened in December 2000 and January 2001, and considers the spills to be serious to the community in general.
• Most say we did a fair to good job handling the situation.
• Open and honest communication with the public was cited as most important.
• Community leaders would like an early warning system and quicker communication with the public if incidents like this should ever happen again.
• Most community members would know what to do if an emergency was announced at one of the industry plants.
• Almost everyone surveyed has heard of the Responsible Care®. Virtually all say this program is beneficial.
• Overall, employee loyalty ratings were very high. 82% of employees surveyed believe NOVA Chemicals is headed in the right direction

What are we doing with the audit results?

Action plans

We will continue our strong community presence from within all levels of our business.

• Community investment is focussed on identified community needs
      -- $150,000 to Lambton College "Targets Excellence in Education"

• Actively support - through resources and funding - municipal initiatives to enhance community notification and understanding.
      -- Ten new community notification sirens were purchased and installed in 2002.
      -- Implementation of a community awareness campaign with Sarnia Lambton CAER
      -- Major sponsor of the new air-monitoring vehicle for Sarnia Lambton Environmental Association
          this vehicle is available to all industry upon request for additional air monitoring at their facility.
      -- The air-monitoring vehicle was used extensively during the 2001 Turnaround at Corunna Site.
          Monitoring data was shared with perimeter neighbours.

• Active participation in CAER Bluewater Community Advisory Panels and Neighbour Focus Groups
      -- Two new members of the panel are St. Clair Township residents.
      -- New processes are being developed with the membership to ensure CAP/NAP agendas
          are community driven.

• Internally, we have implemented a World Class Reliability program.
      -- This program helps to ensure the safe and reliable operation of all of our
          manufacturing facilities.

• The completion of the 2001 major turnaround at our Corunna Site will help to ensure safe and reliable equipment for uninterrupted operation until the next planned turnaround, which is scheduled for 2005.

• A web site for Manufacturing East was developed and launched in 2002 - that can be easily accessed from our external web - to share news and current activities at our manufacturing site.

• An information webpage is being developed with the Sarnia Lambton Environmental Association, the Ministry of the Environment, and Pollution Probe that will put context to content on environmental data for community awareness and clear understanding.

• Processes will be put in place to address and re-define the culture in Manufacturing East.

If you would like to know more about these plans and our community activities,
please contact Jo Ann Brown, Public Affairs, at 519-862-2911, ext. 2591.