History

DuPont started doing business in the East County in 1955 when the company purchased about 552 acres of land just east of the Antioch city limits. At that time, Oakley, Knightsen and Brentwood were small dots on the map in eastern Contra Costa County. In 1956, the plant started manufacturing Freon™ refrigerants and tetraethyl lead (TEL), an anti-knock compound for gasoline. In 1962, a Titanium Dioxide plant was built, which started operations in 1963. Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is a white pigment compound used in paint, toothpaste, and just about anything that's colored white.

During its heyday, the DuPont plant employed almost 600 people; most were from the Antioch - Oakley - Brentwood area. As one of the largest employers, DuPont was an active supporter of local communities and citizens, many of whom were our employees. From the beginning, DuPont contributed to schools, youth recreation facilities, hospitals, fire and emergency response services - the safety of our operations and relationships with local residents have always been a primary focus of DuPont, and to this day we remain an active member of the Oakley Chamber of Commerce.

But during the 1970s and early 80s, DuPont began to take a closer look at its environmental liabilities, especially with respect to some of the products manufactured by the site. In particular, continued production of TEL was seen as problematic when viewed with the heightened environmental awareness that was sweeping the country. DuPont recognized that its role as a responsible manufacturer and community member meant that the company needed to re-examine its product lines. In 1981, changing regulations and market forces contributed to the decision to shut down the TEL plant, and by 1997 the Freon™ plant was no longer a viable enterprise. In 1998, the TiO₂ manufacturing plant could not survive the economics of the loss of the other two plants, and DuPont officially ceased operations at the site on October 31, 1998. Today at the DuPont site you'll see little more than a guardhouse, a small administration building, and a warehouse for packaging and shipping automotive finishes - all the previous manufacturing facilities have been demolished and removed.

Throughout the ordeal of shutting down the plant, DuPont stayed committed to its employees. Some folks were able to continue their careers by transferring to other DuPont plants and businesses. Other former employees decided not to pull up roots, so DuPont helped them find jobs with local employers; and those who were eligible for retirement were offered a generous package to help with the transition.

As with DuPont, things have also changed for Oakley, which has grown from a small rural community of about two to three thousand in 1960 to become a city with its own government and a population of almost 30,000 in 2002. In order to serve this vibrant, local community, DuPont remains committed to final cleanup of the property and reuse of the site.