Document X7R37O5gkzYe11rg3Zm6LLnpJ

VINYL COUNCIL OF CANADA JOINS THE VINYL INSTITUTE ADVISORY NEWS OF INTEREST TO THE PVC AND VCM INDUSTRIES /- Z2? September 1984 The Vinyl Council of Canada was formally granted special membership in The Vinyl Institute at the June 29 meeting of the VI Executive Board. As a special member, the Vinyl Council of Canada is a full regular member of the Institute's Executive Board, and representatives of its member companies will be eligible to attend and participate in all Institute comnittee activities and meetings. The Vinyl Council of Canada Executive Director, Hal Andresen, will represent the Council on the VI Executive Board. Members of the Vinyl Council of Canada include Dow Canada, BF Goodrich Canada, Exxon Chemicals and Novacor. VI TECHNICAL COMMITTEE CHAIR MAN TO SERVE ON PANEL FOR FIRE RESEARCH AT THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS Michael M. O'Mara, vice president of R&D for BFGoodrlch Chemical Group and VI Technical Committee Chairman, has accepted an invitation to serve as a member of the Panel for Fire Research, one of the activities of the Board of Assessment of National Bureau of Standards Programs. This prestigious panel evaluates priority of projects, equipment needs, staff quality, finances and serves as liaison between academic and Industrial communities and Bureau staff. Dr. O'Hara's appointment is fr m July, 1984 to June, 1987. The Vinyl Institute congratulates Dr. O'Mara on this significant appointment. REPRESENTATIVE OF VI MANUFACTURING PRACTICES COM MITTEE APPEARS BEFORE THE EPA'S NATIONAL AIR POLLUTION CONTROL TECHNIQUES ADVISORY COM MITTEE MEETING W.C. Holbrook, Director of Environmental Affairs/BFGoodrlch Chemical and chairman of the Vinyl Institute Manufacturing Practices Committee, appeared before the EPA's National Air Pollution Control Techniques Advisory Committee August 30, to provide The Vinyl Institute's comments on the EPA's draft proposed amendment to revise the Vinyl Chloride Emission standard. Mr. Holbrook stated, "He strongly believe the standard needs to be updated to reflect our combined experience and knowledge gained since its promulgation in 1976. The Industry surpassed the expectation of the original standard...actual emissions were less than one half of those expected after regulation." Mr, Holbrook com municated The Vinyl Institute's appreciation to the EPA for allowing the industry the opportunity to participate in the rulemaking process. PITTSBURGH CODE REVIEW BOARD VOTES TO REJECT PROPOSED BAN ON PLASTIC BUILDING MATERIALS A proposed city ordinance, sponsored by Councilman Ben Woods, to ban plastic pipe in duct work, electrical work and plumbing was unanimously rejected by the Pittsburgh Board of Code Review following an August 14 hearing. Testimony was coordinated on the behalf of a broad-based coalition by the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce. The lead witness, Robert Ferguson, Vice President of Rockwell International, testified for the Government Action Committee of the Chamber. Mr. Ferguson asked the Board to "view the proposal as an unwarranted restriction on technical options open to business, and an interference in private sector market place decisions." 355 Lexington Avenue, New York. NY 10017 BOR 008539 Also testifying were Paul Gemeinhardt, Director of Communications and Advocacy for Chemical Industry Issues, Mobay Chemical Company, Pittsburgh, and Dr. Steve C. Packham of BETR Sciences, Inc., an lnde-^^ pendent toxicologist. Mr. Gemeinhardt said that all materials, bother ^natural and manmade, give off toxic combustion products. He stated, ^"The primary cause of fire fatalities are the same as they were before -**he introduction of plastics into modem buildings, and that is the generation of smoke and carbon monoxide - a very lethal gas." Dr. Packham said, "Data on PVC smoke produces solid evidence substantiatlng that PVC smoke is no worse than wood smoke In its toxicological potency, and while some have attempted to imply a greater hazard to PVC smoke becauee it contains HC1, I would point out that HCI is not more lethal than CO." The VI film, "Vinyl: Trial by Fire," was shown at the hearing, and a VI-produced white paper refuting Mr. Woods' anti-PVC allegations was distributed to members of the Board. Mr. Woods can appeal the matter before the Pittsburgh City Council. Seven votes of the nine council members are needed to override the negative finding of the Board of Code Review. A date for the City Council hearing has not been set. VI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND NEW JERSEY BUSINESS LEADERS PROVIDE TESTIMONY ON FIREMAN'S RIGHT-TO-KNOW BILL BEFORE NEW JERSEY ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE Testimony from VI Executive Director Roy T. Gottesman and key New Jersey business leaders at a recent New Jersey Assembly Lav Public Safety and Defense Committee meeting halted release of Assembly Bill No. 1108, commonly referred to as the "Fireman's Right-To-Know" bill. Introduced last February by Assemblyman John Rooney, the proposed biljl required all industries in New Jersey that store potentially dangeroufl substances on-site to notify local fire departments. After hearing testimony from Dr. Gottesman and representatives from the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, the New Jersey Chemical Industry Council and the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, Assemblyman Rooney asked the Committee to "hold" the bill. Much of the testimony pointed to the fact that regulations under the recently enacted New Jersey Worker's and Conmunity Right-To-Know Act would provide the information which Bill No. 1108 sought to mandate. The Vinyl Institute has offered Assemblyman Rooney assistance in deve loping alternative legislation to improve fire safety. To obtain additional copies of Advisory, or to add your name to the mailing list, contact Miriam Sverdloff, The Vinyl Institute, 355 Lexington Avenue, 4th floor. New York City 10017. Volume 2, No. 4 - September 1984 BOR 008540