Pearson represents about 6,000 children in lawsuits against the Huntsman Corp., according to Concerned Utahns.

Pearson's claims drew sharp denials from two Huntsman officials who attended the news conference.

Don Olsen, spokesman for the Huntsman companies, told Pearson he was not correct "when you say our plant is currently operating outside the bounds of the law. We are absolutely in compliance with all federal and state laws."

Olsen said that since the Huntsman company acquired the aging Texaco plants in Texas, it has spent $163 million to improve them.

Huntsman's campaign manager, Jason Chaffetz, said he hoped the news conference would be "viewed suspiciously" as "grandstanding eight days before the election." He said he doubted "mainstream Democrats" were behind it.

Matheson's press secretary, Kate Fielder, said the campaign was unaware of the event. "No one knew a thing here about what was going on."

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