Document G682qxgBQ70xNzqK3aOmVEgpq

minutes Thursday, March "9, 1978 9:30 A.M.__________________ PVC SAFETY GROUP COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE The International Club ; Washington, D.C. ATTENDEES: Robert C. Downey - CHAIRMAN - B. F. Goodrich Chemical Co., 6100 Oak Tree Blvd. Cleveland, Ohio 44131 Ed Ackerman - Diamond Shamrock Corp., 1100 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114 M. C. Carpenter - Dow Chemical, 2020 Dow Center, Midland, Michigan 48640 Joe Hadley - Keller & Heckman, 1150 17th Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20-36 Gary Baise - Beveridge. Fairbanks & Diamond, One Farragut Square South, Wash. D.C. Jerry Blizin - Hill & Knowlton, Inc., One McPherson Square, Vermont at K. St. N.W. Washington, D. C.20005 Matt Swetonic - Hill & Knowlton, Inc., 633 Third Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017 John R. Lawrence - SPI - 355 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Ed Collins - SPI - 355 Lexington Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017 1 - Chairman Downey opened the meeting by calling on Mr. Baise to review the background of the assignment AIHC has tentatively given to SPI/PVC Safety Group to represent them at the March 23 EPA meeting on its cancer policy and the EDF petition on a suggested new carcinogen policy. Mr. Baise reported on the actions leading to the preparation of a draft statement to represent the PVC Safety Group, SPI and/or AIHC. This statement was presented to the AIHC Scientific Committee on March 7 and < will be presented to the AIHC Steering Committee on March 15. The final version will be available for review at various stages before the March 23 meeting. 2 - Public Relations Consideration After considering various alternatives, the committee agreed that the following elements should be developed for PR support to the industry's participation at the March 23 hearing. (a) Press Conference (b) Radio Actuality (c) Press Release (d) Coverage Washington Media . TV . Papers National Media . All normal channels THE SOCIETY OF THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY, INC. 355 Lexington Avenue* New York, N.Y. 10017 (212)573-9400 SPF-08876 f-2- General strategy would be to set up a defensive position to avoid being pre-empted by environmental groups. Presenters Two tier AIHC Steering Committee member SPI - PVC Representative - *Fleming, *Walker Press Conference - March 22 (11;00 A.M. Brian McMann ) Experts Richard Wilson ) (No press conference if experts are not available) (Briefing of experts on March 20, 21 or before) ^Clearance by John Lawrence as soon as possible 3 - Background Documents Mr. Swetonlc will update various PVC/VC background papers for hand-out if necessary. 4 - Mr. Downey will prepare a recommendation for presentation of the PR Program to the AIHC Committee on March 15. Respectfully submitted, 3/10/78 John R. Lawrence Technical Director SPI-08877 ( SPI-08878 -2- ATTENDEES; D. C. Nuechterlein - CHAIRMAN - Dow Chemical USA,2020 Dow Center, Midland, Mi 48640 R. J, Abramowltz - Hooker Chemical, River Road, Burlington, NJ 08016 A. Rosa Adams - Air Products & Chemicals, P. 0. Box 538, Allentown, PA 18105 John T. Barr - Air Products & Chemicals, P. 0. Box 538, Allentown, PA 18105 Rodney P. Becker - Diamond Shamrock, 1100 Superior Avenue, Clevelans, OHIO 44114 William C. Becker - B. F. Goodrich Chemical Co., 611 Oak Tree Blvd. Cleveland, OH 44131 Scott W. Bowen - Beveridge, Fairbanks & Diamond, One Farragut Sq. S. Washington, D.C. R. B. Downey - B. F. Goodrich Chemical Co., 6100 Oak Tree Blvd. Cleveland, OHIO 44131 John E. Ertel - The Pantasote Co. of N.Y., 26 Jefferson Street, Passaic, NJ 07055 John C. Floros - Great American Chemical, 650 ater Street, Fitchburg, Mass 01420 Gary Ford - Stauffer Chemical, Westport, Ct. 06880 D. H. Francis - Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., 1144 E. Market Street, Akron, Ohio 44313 Roy T. Gottesman - Tenneco Chemicals, Inc. Park 80 Plaza West One, Saddle Brook, NJ. Joseph E. Hadley, Jr., - Keller & Heckman, 1150 17th Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 Charles L. Harrington - Shintech Inc. 3800 Buffalo Speedway, Houston, TX 77098 Robert W. Hill - Diamond Shamrock, 1100 Superior Avenue. Cleveland, OHIO 44114 T. W. Ito - Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., 1144 E. Market St. Akron, OHIO 44316 D. L. Kent - B. F. Goodrich Chemical Div., 6100 Oak Tree Blvd. Cleveland, OHIO 44131 R. W. Laundrie - General Tire & Rubber Co., One General Street, Akron, Ohio 44329 John R. Lawrence - SPI, 355 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Russell A. Park - Firestone Plastics Co., P.. Box 99, Pottstown, PA 19464 P. E. Roggi - Stauffer Chemical Co., Westport, CT 06880 William Rupp - Tenneco Chewmicals, P. 0. Box 365, Turner Place, Piscataway, NJ 08854 Robert C. Sandor - Air Products & Chemicals, P. 0. Box 538, Allentown, PA 18105 Steven W. Schaefer - Diamond Shamrock Co., 1100 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, OHIO 44114 Donald K. Spencer - Shell Chemical Co. One Shell Plaza, Box 2463, Houston, TX 77001 Matthew M. Swetonic - Hill & Knowlton, Inc. 633 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 T. R. Torkelson - Dow Chemical Co., 2030 Dow Center, Midland, MI 48640 R. N. Wheeler, Jr. Union Carbide Corp., P. 0. Box 8004, S. Charleston, W. VA 25303 # if it it SPI-08879 -3- 1 - Mr. Kent reported on the activities of the PVC Fire Safety Committee re inforcing the details provided in his written report (copy attached). He called particular attention to the paper on "The Role of Flame Retardant Additives in PVC", at the March 1978 meeting of the Joint Conference on Fire Retardants, (see copy attached). In summary he stated: 1) The fire safety problem is not nearly as straight forward as the VCM situation. 2) There is a need for a PVC Fire Safety Committee. 3) The existing charter and scope of activities needs to be reviewed and made more effective. 4) There is a need to do the following: - Appointment of a chairman - An authoritative article on medical aspects of combustion inhalation. - Improved liaison with the Toxicity and Communications Committee. Chairman Nuechterlein recommended that Dan Kent continue as chairman of this activity. 2 - Health Committee - see attached report. No financial needs involved except to support publication of MacMahon/Downs papers in the Journal of Occupational Medicine if required. 3 - EPA Activities - Mr. Laundrie reviewed activities of the Manufacturing Technology Committee covering its meetings with the EPA Engineering Division in December. At that time it was indicated that Ms. Susan Wyatt was to meet with the EPA Enforcement Division to develop finer interpretations on what constitutes a presentable relief valve discharge. Mr. Hadley reviewed procedures that might be used to build a record of relief discharges. It was suggested that initially Keller & Heckman be copied with reports of such incidents when sent to EPA starting from January 1978. Any additional information which would help should be supplied. The Manufacturing Technology Committee volunteered to develop a form to use in reporting this information. It was requested that a quarterly report be prepared for circulation to the full committee. In reviewing possible alternatives, legal counsel pointed out that the industry might seek court action to require a formal review of the standard on the basis of the "work practices" sections of the standard not being clearly enforceable until the recent court decision in 1978. After considerable discussion, it was agreed that this type of relief should not be sought at this time. If further SPI-08880 -4- interpretation of enforcement practices does not provide suitable relief, then action could be taken to seek administrative review in the basis that the standard was being enforced in an arbitrary and capricious manner. In the meantime, industry will continue to follow enforcement procedures on a case by case basis. 4 - California, CAPCB - Mr. Hadley reported that both Stauffer and B. F. Goodrich have filed briefs in California with respect to the California Air Pollution Control Board's rule on vinyl chloride emissions. He further indicated that the SPI amicus curiae brief has been prepared and is being reviewed by these companies. It is expected that it will be filed shortly. Mr. Gary Ford reported that the State has conceeded that the CAPCB vinyl chloride rule is not a standard but rather a goal to be implemented in the future. This is felt to be an important concessions. 5 - FDA Activities - Mr. Hadley reviewed FDA's activities relative to its 1975 proposed rule on PVC packaging materials. The data supplied by Ethyl and others relative to PVC's retention of low levels of residual vinyl chloride is being carefully reviewed by FDA staff. There appears to be a good possibility that FDA may withdraw its 1975 proposed rule and introduce a rule that would recognize prior sanction of PVC for packaging with certain restrictions on residual monomer levels. The timing on this action is unpredictable at this time. A vote of thanks was given to Ethyl Corporation for providing the principal data to encourage FDA continuing favorable consideration of this matter. 6 - Mr. Downey reviewed the conclusions of the January 10 meeting of the Communications Committee and submitted the Hill & Knowlton communications and activities budget recommendations (copy attached). Approval was noted to operate on a budget not to exceed $6,500 per month with a mid-year review to consider specific needs for the balance of the year. In addition, approval was voted to publish the PVC Position Papers, the revision of the PVC Q&A booklets and the talk on "PVC and Food Packaging Safety", at an estimated cost of $6,500. 7 - The January 4, 1979 audit of the PVC Safety Group's funds for the first half of 1978/79 was distributed. After some discussion, it was agreed that, on the basis of the 1978 expenditures of approximately $337,000, the Group would attempt to operate on a $200,000 budget for 1979. The assessments for this budget is to be split into two equal assessments with a midyear review of budgetary needs to determine whether adjustments should be made. The assessments are to be based on the January 1, 1979 reported capacities as solicited in the December 11, 1978 SPI survey. Efforts are to be made to involve ICI America, Georgia Pacific, and Keysor-Century in the Group's activities. SP1-08881 5- ' 8 - Mr. Becker suggested that consideration be given to the formation of a subcommittee to review comments that members may be submitting to OSHA relative to developing rules for the regulation of EDC. Interest in participating was expressed by the following companies: Dow Chemical Ethyl Corporation Shell Chemical - B. F. Goodrich - PPG Industries - Stauffer Chemical It was agreed that comments being considered for submission to OSHA by its March 18 due date, be sent to Mr. Hadley for review and that a meeting of company representatives would be called. 9 - Mr. Gary Ford indicated that he would be attending the MCA Solid Waste Committee meeting considering R. regulations. Mr. Nuechterlein requested Mr. Ford report back to the PVC Safety Group on this activity. 10 - Mr. Nuechterlein appointed Messrs. John Ertel, Spencer and Abramowitz as the Nominating Committee. Their assignment is as follows: 1) The appointment of three member companies to the Steering Committee to replace B.F. Goodrich, Air Products and Tenneco going off the Steering Committee as of May 31, 1979. These representatives are to serve for a three year term. 2) Recommend for nominating individuals to serve as Chairman, Vice Chairman and Treasurer from member companies serving on the Steering Committee. The companies continuing on the Steering Committee are as follows: Term ending May 31, 1980 Ethyl - Shell - Pantasote Term ending May 31, 1981 Dow -Diamond - Firestone. It was noted in accordance with the bylaws, that there is no reason why the companies going off the Steering Committee cannot be reelected to serve for an additional three years. However, it is always important to consider bringing in new participants to the Steering Committee. SPI-08882 -6- 11 - The next meeting of the Steering Committee was set for March 30 at the SPI office in New York. A tentative date for a meeting of the full committee was set for May 22, if a meeting is deemed necessary. 12 - The meeting adjourned at 2:35 p.m. Respectfully submitted. Attachments March 16, 1979 SIM-08883 meeting PVC SAFETY GROUP STEERING COMMITTEE Crystal City Marriott Arlington, VIRGINIA Tuesday, January 16, 1979 8:00 A.M. A Breakfast Meeting of the PVC Steering Committee will be held at 8:00 a.m. on the morning of Tuesday, January 16, 1979. Discussions for this meeting will center on key issues and reports by the chairmen of the various subcommittees for presentation to the Group at the 10:00 a.m. session. Please let me know your plans for attending this Breakfast Meeting by calling 212/573-9437. Thank you. John R. Lawrence Technical Director :GM THE SOCIETY OF THE =LASTiCS 'NDU3TRY. INC. 355 Lexington Avar..,e Ne-.v * ~r< N Y 1C017 ;2'2 5"3-9-CC SPI-08884 Sheeting PVC SAFETY GROUP Crystal City Marriott ARLINGTON. VIRGINIA Tuesday, January 16, 1979 10:00 A.M. A full meeting of the PVC Safety Group is scheduled for Tuesday, January 16, 1979 at the Crystal City Marriott Hotel, 1999 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia, beginning at 10:00 a.m. adjournment approximately 4:00 p.m. An agenda for this meeting will be mailed to you shortly. A block of 15 rooms has been reserved by SPI for those of you requiring overnight accommodations. Enclosed for your convenience is a reservation card which should be returned directly to the hotel before the cut-off date. A luncheon reception is being planned for 12 noon and lunch will be served at 12:30 p.m. Kindly sign and return the attached form Indicating your plans for attending this meeting. Gloria R. Mollison, Secretary to John R. Lawrence Technical Director :GM Ends. THE SOCIETY OF THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY. INC. 355 Lexingtcn Aver,,e Ne.v Y;rv, N.y ,0017 (212) 573-34CG SPI-08885