Document MJMeDKRaRM6bMnDvm40J2aLgk

M&M MINUTES BOCK MINUTES MANUFACTURING & MINING COMMITTEE MEETING ARIZONA BILTHQRE HOTEL PHOENIX, ARIZONA October 1, 1980 Mr. E. R. Kiehl, Chairman of the Manufacturing 6 Mining Committee, called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. Those in attendance were: E. R. Kiehl J. E. Gillespie C. T. Upshaw T. W. Richards J. A. Keller R. R. Wood F. C. Briscoe L. E. Madden J. D. Cornell K. E. Mohler D. L. Kimport D. E. Brackett H. B. Carlsen F. J. Rogers The Celotex Corporation Domtar Construction Materials The Flintkote Company Georgia-Pacific Corporation Gold Bond Building Products Pabco Gypsum Three Rivers Gypsum, Inc. Three Rivers Gypsum, Inc. United States Gypsum Company United States Gypsum Company Legal Counsel Gypsum Association Gypsum Association Gypsum Association Following self introductions, the minutes of the April 1A-15, 1980 Manufacturing & Mining Corrfmittee meeting were approved as distributed. 1. AIR AND WATER POLLUTION Mr. K. E. Mohler reported on this subject, indicating the possibility of future Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) studies in the area of mine and quarry discharges for chlorides and heavy metals can be expected. He noted that currently the EPA has contracted with the Radian Corporation relative to the development of New Source Performance Standards for the gypsum industry. He stated that operations of concern are fugitive emissions from stockpiles, point sources, and stack emissions from dryers, kettles and board plants. He noted that completion of the field work in this study which has included several industry test locations, is scheduled for some time during the fourth quarter of this year, and although final standards proposals are not yet known, the Association is currently awaiting the Phase II draft report from Radian for review and industry comment. The final standard is expected to cover typical emissions from a gypsum calcining mill and board plant and list those control methods considered as best available control technology. It will apply to new sources only and will have no impact on existing sources unless such sources are modified during an ex pansion or modernization program. Initial reoorts from Radian personnel indicate that recommendations for particulate emissions will be similar to those developed in a previous EPA study covering mineral mining and process ing portions of our industry's operations, with a limit of .015 grains per dry standard cubic foot 3f exhaust air or gases, all of which can be met by properly designed collecting systems of various types. -7- Hrfi h{C:&t / "In essence, the accommodation provision mandates religious discrimination," Schwartz said. "It requires an overt preference for the religious beliefs of certain employees and dictates that an employer must go out of his way to accommodate minority beliefs, even if such accommodation is detrimental to other employees. The requirement dis criminates among religions by favoring only those beliefs which require modification of an employee's work rules." OSHA and NIOSH Back Move to Tighten Asbestos Exposure Rules Two federal agencies have recommended that workplace exposure limits for asbestos be slashed from the present two million fibers per cubic meter of air to 100,000 fibers. A work group of OSHA and NIOSH stated there is no safe exposure limit for asbestos and that all forms of the substance cause disease. OSHA and NIOSH also called for the elimination from the work place of all new non-essential uses of asbestos and reiterated that all forms of asbestos are equally dangerous, thus finding no basis for reg ulating one type of asbestos fiber differently from any other type of fiber. Asbestos information Association charged that NIOSH's recom mendation is based almost entirely on epidemiologic evidence from worker populations exposed to asbestos at levels many times greater than those experienced in industry today. The Association urged OSHA and NIOSH to avoid resorting to extreme regulatory measures without first examining the consequences of their actions - both for workers and society as a who 1e. In concluding this agenda subject, Mr. Brackett reported on hearings conducted by Senator Williams' committee relative to plant closure legislation, HR 5040 and S 1609, currently being considered, noting that several unions testified in support of such legislative protection. It was the consensus of the committee that the Association need not take an active part in the Congressional oversight hearings, but actively support the programs of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Manufacturers in this area in an effort to defeat these legislative proposals. All subjects under Agenda Item #3 were carried for future committee discussion and action. 4. INDUSTRY HEALTH RESEARCH PROGRAM Mr. C. T. Upshaw reported on this subject, noting that there was no activity in this area at this time since those federal regu latory actions which were awaited have not yet materialized. He noted that the OSHA silica standard development and several NIOSH mine health j&upOi.i.'Vy