Document 5ba05nVDNjEqnNBRJy320v52z

VINYL INSTITUTE EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING September 19> 1984 Washington, D.C. [ATTENDEESf G. E. Dlsch G. R. D. Tudhope Todd Walker Fred Tlmpe Charles Beresfoxd H. R. Flammer Peter De La Cruz_ Steve Schaefer^ Larry Wheeler R. E. Sander^ H. E. Andersen George R. Snidery M. M. O'Mara Bob Buehler / B. A. DlLlddoV Roy T. GottesmanJ Tenneco ICI Borden Certalnteed Tenneco Vista Polymers Keller & Heckman Occidental Shell Air Products Vinyl Council Canada B. F. Goodrich B. F. Goodrich B. F. Goodrich B. F. Goodrich Vinyl Institute Following self-introductions, the minutes from the June 29th Executive Board Meeting were approved by voice vote. Financial Report Larry Wheeler reported on the financial status through August 31st and expected expenditures through the first six months of the 1984-1985 fiscal year. The expenditures are projected to remain within the budgeted amounts provided no additional contingency monies are required. The detailed report is contained in Tab E. Codes and Regulatory Committee Roy Gottesman reported for Don Hunter (Tab C). A meeting of the committee will be held on October 23rd and 24th to try and gain consensus on an overall program. The scope of this committee's activities and interaction with other industry groups has yet to be determined. Communications Committee George Snider presented the committee report (Tab D). George passed out the annual report and indicated that he now felt the Institute had an adequate library of information for public relations activities and that little additional publication work is required in the near future. A major communications effort is being directed toward hearings on the proposed establishment of a New York State combustion toxicity code - up to 11 hearings will be held on the proposal. SPI appears deeply divided on whether to stonewall the proposal on the grounds that no proven fEN 2784 VI EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING Washington D.C.-9/19/84 Paga 2 combustion toxicity tests exists or to try and make a counterproposal. Bob Buehler concluded that the New York State Building Codes Council has gone too far for 9 stonewall strategy to be successful. Options Include: a) A proposed sprinkler and smoke alarm model program. These , costs could be compared to the cost of the toxicity testing , program in terms of lives saved. b) Negotiate with the state on a test which Industry could accept. The NBS fire modeling program could become the basis for such a program. Bart DiLlddo agreed to help organize the Vinyl Institute's response in coordination with the SPI. George next reported on the California EIR. The protocol on leaching studies has now been agreed upon. The test program at Versor, Inc is expected to begin on October 15th on CPVC only and will take 90 days to complete. It has been decided that metal pipe will not be tested for the purpose of the California EIR due to lack of agreement on test protocol. However, Goodrich is doing preliminary testing in their own laboratories on soldered copper pipe. Once results are available, 90 days, a survey will be conducted to determine the member interest in conducting a more extensive program on copper and galvanized pipe. A program of this nature could run $100M to $200M. A NIOSH report just released on the hazards of solvent cement to plumbers shows no effect. However, the statistical significance of the study is low and will likely prove to be inadequate. Fred Timpe reported that $270M was awarded to a New Jersey plumber for medical damage caused by exposure to solvent cement. Fred will provide further information to the legal committee for review. The technical committee will also review our current knowledge base on solvent chemicals. Manufacturing Practices Committee R. Gottesman presented the report contained in Tab E. Bart DiLlddo urged all the members to participate in the Vinyl Chloride standard negotiations currently underway. The EPA will probably make a public proposal in early February. Peter De La Cruz felt that the industry proposal to allow emergency relief discharges of under 100 pounds would not be accepted by the EPA, however, ar. allowable release ratio_per batch of product produced could probably be negotiated. Technical Committee Mike O'Mara reported on the committee's activities (Tab F). The committee is having difficulty gaining publication of the FAA data on Hcl toxicity. SWRI will be encouraged to write the report within the next few months. The technical data base will be transferred to a PC for use by the Technical and Legal Committees. Access to the information by member companies can be obtained through the leaders of the various technical TEN 2785 / VI EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING Washingt n D.C.-9/19/84 Page 3 sub-committees. This should Improve efficiency in the handling of information flow, A new sub-committee was established to track developments in PVC waste management technology. A, proposal was made to enter a phase III testing program for pipe permeation at a cost of $50M. Aa funds could also be required later in the year to do pipe metal testing, it was agreed to withhold a decision until the magnitude of a total "pipe testing package" could be assessed. Legal Committee The legal committee has not met since the last executive board meeting. It was agreed that Harold Fast would act as chairman until a new chairman was selected for_the 85/86 fiscal year. Peter De La Cruz reported on FDA activities (Tab G). Acrylonitrile was given a clean bill of health for bottle use by the FDA. This is an encouraging development and improves PVC's chances of approval this fall. Peter also brought to the Board's attention that new patent laws now make allowances for the FDA approval period and that the 17-year clock begins upon final clearances of patented products. On the litigation front - the Fifth Circuit Court's decision on the Ethyl VCM emission case is not likely before spring. All participants in the Younkers law suit except Goodrich and the SPI have settled out of court. Executive Director's Activity Report Roy Gottesman presented the report contained in Tab H. Old Business Memberships - no progress has been made with non-participating U.S. producers. Roy will look into the feasibility of asking European plastics societies to join on the same basis as the Vinyl Council of Canada. The potential merger of other SPI vinyl organizations, into the Vinyl Institute was discussed (Tab I). The Board's consensus was that no real benefit could be gained through consolidation. Informal liaisons could be useful in determining areas where interactions would be beneficial. New Business 1. Naval wire & cable specifications - initially the Navy felt it necessary to ban halogen containing materials because of their corrosive effect on computer systems. The strategy currently being used is to help the Navy develop tests which fit their needs. PVC or any material could then be formulated to meet these requirements (Tab J). 2. Union Carbide - national electrical code. UCC seems to have changed their strategy from attempting to write PVC out of the code to promoting their own materials. TEN 2786 Ttrt V/, n't,!2- VI EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING Washington D.C.-9/19/84 Page 4 3. Proposed modification of Vinyl Institute by-law (Tab K). Guy Dlsch motioned that the by-laws be amended to allow foreign trade associations to have membership In the Vinyl Institute as specified in Tab K. This was seconded by Larry Wheeler and approved 9 to 0. .i 4. G. Dlsch raised the question as to the accuracy of an SPI memo including PVC under chemicals liable for superfund tax. Legal evaluated and said PVC is not subject to the tax. 5. Local legislative bills in New Jersey and Pittsburg were successfully blunted with presentations of data on the combustablllty and toxicity of PVC (Tab K). 6. G. Dlsch -mentioned that Allied Tube had recently purchased Anaconda's wire & cable business making it less likely that they will pursue their PVC attacks. 7. R. Flammer suggested that H. Van der Voort, recently retired from Carlon, be Invited to attend the January VI meeting. This would encourage a better interchange of information on current code activities. Bart DiLiddo set January 9th as the next meeting. Bob Sander motioned for adjournment. L. Wheeler second. Adjourned by voice vote. H. R. Flammer Secretary ftrJ 4^ a PEN 2787