Document OE1DmrEn0jooRVKk5M958ZvXw

Thomas G. Grumbles t TXTo 'dqIc^ Vos_^ n\ ifior\ rr\e.A\c\\ C.00 S-Cs VISTA _yS5? JCL: F.F XF:__ {M_______ )roeL douZ. \ A Vo^vxutr l AA Vvab CL fT\ f-\ y ^ ^2G- moiie. \tf\ Vote (YAa tiers /f^ce_ (f\ VW^ (cuVo-^ (\d^ . vvv 00001^26 CHEMICAL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION July 15, 1988 To j Company CAER Coordinators Subject: OP-ED Piece for Facility Managers Attached is a generic op-ed piece that the CMA CAER Task Group prepared for facility managers to explain what industry is doing under CAER and Title III to make communities safer. This is the first of several Title III op-ed pieces that the task group will develop and distribute in the months ahead. I would appreciate it if you would send this item and future suggested op-eds to facility managers within your company so they can use it to put their best foot forward. The CAER Task Group believes this op-ed piece, along with facility managers' community outreach activities, can help the public, government officials and the media understand that the chemical industry is concerned about the health and well-being of those who live near facilities. As you will see, the item may be used almost as is. Facility managers need only fill in basic information denoted in boldface. With the July 1, emissions reporting deadline having recently passed, the need for industry to communicate with various publics about emissions reductions, waste minimization, worker health and safety and a host of other subjects is more important than ever. The op-ed pieces can serve to initiate or maintain an ongoing dialogue between industry and the community. If some facility managers in your network have already written op-ed pieces on Title Ill/community right-to-know, or if their community outreach activities were highlighted in - newspaper articles or on television, I would be grateful if you would send me copies of the print or video items. Thank you for your assistance, and please call me at 202/887-1150 if you have any questions or comments. Enclosure cc: R. Schumacher, CMA VW 000014427 2501 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037 202-887-1100 Telex 89617 (CMA WSH) OP-ED: TITLE III/COMMUNITY RIGHT-TO-KNCJW Several years ago, public concern about the safe production and transport of chemicals in (name of community) increased. The same concern also arose in other communities. Through the Chemical Manufacturers Association, the chemical industry responded with the Community Awareness and Emergency Response (CAER) process. CAER has two objectives: 1) to help industry inform local citizens about facility operations and 2) to help industry work with government officials, emergency responders and the public to develop coordinated emergency response plans. CAER gives emergency response planning groups a set of guidelines for informing residents about chemical industry operations in their communities and protecting residents and communities in emergencies. (Name of comnity)'s CAER effort began in (year), and (name of company) was proud to be a charter member of that effort. Through facility open houses and in talks to various community organizations, members of (name of CAER group) have explained what purpose CAER serves and what we are doing to make (name of community) safer. Using the CAER process, local industry has sat down WV 000014428 -3- part of local industry's ongoing commitment to the CAER process and fits in with industry's objective of sharing information with local citizens about facility operations. Although the chemical industry is one of the safest manufacturing industries, some individual facilities have not always been willing Co publicly discuss inventory and emissions data, as well as other information related co plant operations. Through CAER and Title III, we are sharing important information with the citizens of (name of conunity). Together, government, citizens and industry can identify community needs and solve problems that affect all of us. I have every confidence that (name of community) is equal to this challenge. 00001**29 vw