Document mKRM0ZnQRq9jmxLga37VYxa4

TEXAS CHEMICAL COUNCIL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH COMMITTEE MEETING JANUARY 3, 1987 HOBBY HILTON HOTEL HOUSTON, TEXAS MINUTES - ]3S7 `ha i rffls-n 1 s Rso.crt - J. Roster Mr . Foster- discussed whers the TCC Envircn/ngnts. -''ea.-n Committee reed ed to focus its attention curing xro- . at Texas -Legi slatur-e is in session, the codinit^.ee will -sec slert: to p-rapcs-sd Legislation -fcha-t may be of interest tc VW N Tr n The biggest problem that will be adcresrsc by this session of the legislature will be the budget. It is going to be diffic ult tc cut the budget and raise money without raising taxes. The Bui Lack proposal would increase by over 50'/. the amount of tax paid by some TCC member companies. The issues that will involve the TCC Environmental Health Committee are; 1. What is to be the role for the Texas Department of Health (TDH) in the area of risk analysis? There is a bill proposed by the TDH giving them some as yet unidentified role in risk analysis. This may be a bill that TCC will want to support. . What will be the funding status of the Texas RightTo-Know Law? 3 A bill has been proposed to certify asbestos handles in the ?t = te o'r Texas. rtf \/ % / /'if The TCC Environmental Health Committee will continue tc develop a working relsfionsh-ip with the TDH. The TDH will become more involved in chronic health risks, risk assessment, risk management, and risk ccmmunicaritn to the- public. The TCC can assist the TDH snc the general public in the area of chronic health risks, she iCC may be able to influence the- TDH and the State of Texas in now to deal with the questions concerning chronic health risk, J. Eclcck raisec trre question of new would the Env i r omenta 1 neaith Committee be able to develop an organizes response to oreposeo regulations. It was determined that TCC Environmental Health Committee members would review the Federal Register, Texas Register, conduct Iiason with acoropriate agencies, and conduct liason with the TCC Legislative Committee in order to determine if any proposed rules or legislation would be of interest to the TCC Environmental Health Committee. The TCC Environmental Health Committte Chairman will assign committee members to prepare a response to specific issue?. VVV 000009200 page E Committee Reports A. Health Effects Information Center -- C. Owen A i2c;sr was iraftsi arc sent ts i _ _ msmter corripari^s *.r. Sects-icsr of 19cc, to cs:er,Tiir.5 net the nealth information contact psrscn woulc be at each facility. A afc :c bcttsr define win at is csing rsiwSSiec from eacr 5.C l i i z y w O fT 5 rrapDCSSs "0V6 osar SCSI* sc arc rmc. -- e *.av bp<c===*ir. p n.Tiissc . A software program has Oasn aeveicped for on IE* RC ;a nandie th.e data tnat is coming in from the responses to. the information requests. The project is proceeding well. It appears tnat the smaller companies can provice information sccner than the larger companies due to the sics of the respective databases. 5 . State of Texas Risk Assessment -- J. Solook The Texas Chemical Council Risk Assessment Subcommittee met with three state agenciesi * Texas Air Control Board Texas Department of Health Texas water Commission in an effort to determine each agency's role and responsibility in risk assessment. Based upon the 1-2 hour meetings, the fallowing summary comments/recommenaations are made: TACO Only agency actively involved in risk assessment through the permitting system. Considers current methodology as guidelines rather than rigid standards, i.e., therefore, flexibility in system.- Manpower resources- and the scientific data bases are limited. The Medical Resource Advisory panel is available for expert consul tation, but Is not consulted the majority af the time. 7AC3 health effects review is generally not a critical path item in the permitting system (engineering review and lack of complete explanation of the why, how much, etc. slows the system). vvv 000009201 Presently a activity in \ ot use risk assessment methodology, but will increase future. Recognized t- it TDH can assist in risk assessment, but currently not used. Desires a si - pie system which establishes a standard. i.e., what's the number and Go. exceptions should be handled on a case-by-case situation (realizes that same flexibility must be in the system). page -a Rely almost exclusively on EFA guidelines (provides easy imple mentation, i.e., Washington puts it out and TWC implements). * Water quality standards (surface and around) will be key issues for future use of risk assessment-. will oe seeking Input from- TC- with regard to wat?: quality stream standards. ' Resources limited for comprehensive involvement in risk assss?ment . ' TWC must review nazii-Jous . a 3 t = per':: with TDH. c : o s t ^ 11 / , this does not occur. TWC would like to receive as much toxicity data as passible when submitting for a permit r scar ding affluent diiab.-argor. TOh * Historically, all environmental programs were within TDH but present day operation minimal (lost to other agencies). * TOH is in a reactive mode, i.e., an effect is identified and a cause is locked for rather than the classical cause-effect methodology. Cniy agency that has trained medical, industrial hygiene and epide miology personnel to perform risk assessment. TOH is "informally Involved" with risk assessment but desires to be lead organization. * Manpower resources are extremely limited as is funding (example is Texas Right To Know legislation), * Participants on the Interagency Coordination Council on Solid Waste Management and an "informal network" composed of TDH, TAGS, TWC and Department of Agriculture. * Only involvement In risk assessment is in municipal waste sit.es (TDH lead a.gency) and coordination with TWC fox industrial solid waste incineration and hazardous waste sites (but, limited activity). A general conclusion to be drawn Is that risk assessment is conducted in an arbitrary manner and not based on sound scientific inFomation, The methodology is dependent upon a modification of woxkolace staresrds, but "flexible1' to handle special situations. It 1= recommended that efforts begin to have the Texas Department of Health designated as the referee (appeals level) in r.eaitn risk assess ment issues. yyy QOGQ09202 It is recommended that TCC suDport, whenever' possible, the concept of using a simple screening model for determining risk assessment. It is recommended that the Risk Assessment Subcommittee continue functioning in a monitoring mode within the respective member agencies and be informed of legislative activity In the risk assessment area. Detailed notes and organizational charts are contained in a separate document to be distributed by the Subcommittee upon request. page 4 Fs-ncs-1 ine Is-sues- -- R. Dani el A Harold Scarlett article before last Christmas snowed tne Legator Mo-usemob i le. The new project leader is Ms. Judy Henry. The' wcrrk for 19S6 was co.mpleted -and a _pser review was held. A report to the tACB was preo.ared by the investigators. The study involves low level mouse exposure to different ccncentrations of benzene, a chloroprene/xylene mixture, and epichlorohydrin for BS hours/day for a six (6) week period. Five (5) different asseys are run on the test animals at sacrifice: spleen lymphocyte, pulmonary alveoli macrophage, micronuclei, unscheduled DNA synthesis in mouse sperm, and liver enzymes. Benzene appears at this time to be the most sensitive chemical to this testing procedure. There was a statistical increase in spleen lymphocytes snd lung macrophages. These findings were evident at 1.0 ppm and 0.1 ppm. Chloroprene in high spleen lymphocytes. respond in the same doses had an effect on male The female mice tested did way. mouse no t The experiments using ep icMorahydrin will have repeated due to a compressor failure during the e-xper i men tat i on. to be initial This project is receiving a majority of the TACB research funds for this year. Theme is also a study of the Dalia_s area air quality being funded due to tire large decline in visatil.ty over the last 10 years. VVV 000009203 page During 1987, the benzene exposure concentrations to be studied will be 0.1 ppm, 0.04 ppm, and 0.0B ppm. In addition, slides will be prepared to store sperm unscheduled DNA synthesis results for later examination. A new team = -* was added wh:*= svps-tise is the area of toxicological immune assey . The intent is tr develop dcss-rssponse curves. As tne siuav exposures cst lower and lews-, they will approach amoienc cacVgroumd levels, i ns ffiCusS'TiCD i .ss may c m e n ce m o s c cc - r -- . cn mm unities tc The entire study is snort ct t u noing sne they' need assistance. The TCC member companies may oe asked to proviae funding if a specific need can be identified. addition, the project staff is trying to obtain money superfund. 1 r. from Some people are opposed to this entire project because they feel that the universities should be tasked with research of this type. A TCC Environmental Health Committee position on this study is to be developed. It appears that there may be grounds to support the study based on the fact in may turn out to be "good science". Dr. Cowles will review the study protocol and provide a second opinion on the merit of the project. D. Texas Right-To--Know -- L. Freeland The TDH has passed a schedule of fines and it is now law. As a part of the law, an annual update of hazardous chemicals is required to be submitted to the TDH. The Texas Civil Liberties Union has filed suit against TDH for exclusion of farm workers in the R-T--K regulations. The potential outcome of this suit is unclear at this time. the A training booklet has teen ccmp-Leteb. with the. assistance of the TCC Environmental Health Sub--ccrmori ttee on R--T--K.. This booklet w LI 1 be used as a basis for a course presentation in the Longview, Texas area in March, I9S7. D. Pringle will make presentations along with some of the local TDH staff. In the enforcement area, the TDH seems bo be going after the sma.lsr chemical producers and issuing fines where possibl- The TDH is considering a 510.00 filing fee each year fc .he required hazardous chemical list. The sub-committee members were recognized for their efforts working to implement the Texas R-T-K regu1 ations. VVV 000009204 page 6 III. Risk Communication Seminar/Workshop -- J. Foster Last summer the TCC reached the conclusion that something should be done to assist in the area of risk communication. As a result of this decision, tr.e i uC is one ct the many sponsors for a Risk Communication Seminar/Uicrksncp to ce r.elc in October, icr3"?. J. Foster (TCC) and D. Sher.ican (Texas Environmental Scantier) are the co-chairs for tr.e event. Gther sponsoring entities a-'e: Sierra Club, League cf women voters--, TEH, ERA, LTT Sc reel for Ce.r.mur. i ca t i ons , LTSRH, AIH A , ar.b AIHC. The Center for Rural Stucies may also be- a sponsor at a later date. One of the objectives of the event is to develop a plan to communicate cnronic health risks to the public. This seminar/workshop will only be useful to the chemical industry it is perceived as not being a chemical industry activity. if IV. Asbestos Handlers - D. Bray D. Gray was appointed as chairman of the committee to investigate the proposed legislation concerning certification of asbestos handlers and develop a TCC response. Cne cf the previsions of the proposed legislation (HE 36 by L. Chris) is that asbestos workers must be cenirified. Mr. Joel Smith of the TDH is the liason for this bill. There are several provisions that may change before the bill is actually passed. If training certification is needed as a result of the bill, the UH/CLC has approached EPA to perform the training. There is a possibility that facilities that are already under the OSHA Asbestos regulations may be exempt from the proposed HB 36. The next meeting of the TCC Environmental Health Committee is set for Apri* 33, 1967, at 9;00 am. "''he exact location will be determined later > 000009205 ;