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THE CHLORINE INSTITUTE, INC. DECEMBER 1994 WASHINGTON. D.C. VOL. XIV. NO. 7 CHLOREP CLASSROOM These emergency responders and ER trainers are part of the class of approximately 120 who attended the CHLOREP seminar in mid-Nov mber, held at the Drawbridge Inn, Ft. Mitchell, KY. CHLOREP Seminar Attended By Over 100 The Drawbridge Inn and Convention Center of Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky (near Cincinnati, Ohio) was the site for the mid-November meeting of the Institute's CHLOREP Committee and the 26th CHLOREP Seminar. As the CHLOREP Emergency Equipment Subcommittee and the CHLOREP Steering Group were adjourning their meetings, hazmat and emergency responders from North and South America were arriving for the day-and-a-half CHLOREP Seminar. Over 100 participants were registered and ready when the seminar began with a welcome by Don Hanna of PPG Industries, chairman of the CHLOREP Emergency Team Operations Subcommittee which coordinates the annual event. After Hanna's opening remarks, Mike Lyden, Cl vice president of storage and transport, discussed recent activities within CHLOREP. The remainder of the morning schedule consisted of: "Reviews of Significant Incidents" by Armand Damesino and Wayne King of DuPont, Niachlor and Dave Mair of CanadianOxy Chemicals; "Use of Water and Foam on Chlorine" and "Estimating The Area Affected by a Chlorine Release" by Charlie Cooke of Chlorine Consultants, Inc.; and "CHLOREP Sector Training" by Jim Faso and Ed Sturgeon of Occidental Chemical. In the afternoon, Joe Workman of Olin Corporation and the vice chair of the Team Operations Subcommittee divided the participants into four groups. The remainder of the day and the next morning, these groups rotated between four designated conference rooms to participate in separate problem solving sessions. The discussion groups were: "Damage Assessment and Handling Leaking Containers" led by Clyde Strong, consultant; "Evaluation of CHLOREP Sector Coverage" led by Jim Faso and Ed Sturgeon of Occidental; "Caustic Rail Spill Scenario" led by Bruce Fleming and In Eartv February Packaging Seminar Details Announced The 1995 Chlorine Institute Packaging Seminar will be held in Miami, Florida, Sunday through Tuesday, Feb. 5-7, according to Gary Trojak, Cl vice president of packaging and technical service. The location will be the Miami Airport Marriott. Anyone expecting to attend must make their reservations directly with the hotel. There is a block of rooms at a special rate which will be held until January 6. When making reservations, participants should acknowledge they will be attending the Institute's Packaging Seminar. The phone number of the Miami Airport Marriott is area code (305), 649-5000. In addition to a "round-robin" of workshops on packaging plant operations, emergency response, and safety & training, participants will be invited to tour Allied Universal Chemical's Miami packaging plant. Prior to the tour and workshops, there will be 15 presentations on subjects ranging from "Cylinder and Ton Container Repairs and Maintenance" to "Respirators and Employee Training." Registration forms should be received at the Institute by January 20, 1995. DO A 07705? __________ CONF IDFNTT Al Gary Burrows of Olin; and "ChlorinV Cylinder and Kit 'A' Problem Scenarios" led by Wayne Witt of HVC, Maurice Ferguson of Indian Springs Manufacturing, Fred Nichols, (Continued on next page) Membership Survey Distribution Date To Be Set Soon Institute member representatives attending the Fall Meeting were alerted to a Membership Survey planned for distribution soon. Cl Board Chairman Chuck Mears said in his message during th opening luncheon, "The Executive Committee has approved a survey of the membership that I requested to determine how the Institute is performing in serving the membership, and also to evaluate the Institute's ability to set goals and BENEATH THE 'BIG SKY' -- Near Helena. Montana, a group of participants in the TRANSCAER workshop awaits its turn for "hands on" training on a chlorine tank car, provided by Burlington Northern Railroad. strategies to keep up with technical, regulatory and political changes that are constantly occurring." Since the Williamsburg gathering, the Washington, D.C. research and From Texas to Montana Second TRANSCAER Workshop Held publishing firm of Fetzer-Krause, Inc. has been commissioned to conduct the survey. Drafts have been Last month, readers of the INSIDER learned about the Transportation Community Awareness Emergency Response (TRANSCAER) workshop in The morning sessions consisted of four hours of presentations on the chemical industry's Responsible Care" initiative, the TRANSCAER objectives, reviewed in November and discus sions are being held concerning the group(s) to be surveyed and the options for distribution of the forms. Deer Park, Texas. This month, we have a report on a similar event held ;n Helena, Montana, in the early fall. CHLOREP, and the Burlington The Board of Directors Executive Northern Railroad's Early Response Committee reiterates to all Cl Program. The afternoon sessions members the importance of this The title given to the workshop was "Partners In Transcaer." It was organized and staffed through the cooperation of Cl member involved participatory training on emergency response techniques using a Montana Rail Link "train" consisting of a locomotive, refrigerated boxcar, survey to the Institute. Those who receive the survey are asked to take the time to answer the questions with deliberation and forethought and CanadianOxy Chemicals, AAR chlorine tank car, methanol tank car return the survey to the research members Burlington Northern Railroad and Montana Rail Link, and the State of Montana Disaster and Emergency and sulfuric acid tank car. firm. Results will be reported at the For their part in the organization of, Annual Meeting in Houston, or earlier and participation in, the TRANSCAER if available. Services. Over 100 firefighters, emergency medical staff, emergency response coordinators, railroad employees and hazardous materials shippers actively participated over the two days of classroom education and "hands on" field instruction. workshop, four CanadianOxy Chemicals associates received welldeserved commendations in a letter from the State of Montana Director of Safety and Hazardous Materials. Those individuals were Terry Litchfield, Dave Mair, Dick Clarkson and Ron Sens. 100 Attend CHT.ORFP (From previous page) PB&S, Jim Lafleur, consultant, and Gregg Francis, Allied Chemical. The groups attended two sessions in the afternoon and two the following morning. During a reception for the participants before the banquet, there were displays of personal protective New 'B' Kit Pamphlet Available Special Publications Plan Announced The Publications Department of the Institute announces the release of Edition 7, "Chlorine Institute Emergency Kit "B" For Chlorine Ton Containers." The price of the pamphlet to Cl members is $5.00. Also, the Institute has designed a special discount plan for members who would like to have one of each of the Institute's printed publications for their resource library --includes pamphlets, MIRs and drawings. The discount is an additional 25 percent off the already special member price. For more information and specific dollar savings through this plan, contact Sudine Bradley, "pubs" coordinator. equipment, chlorine emergency kits, and two emergency response vehicles provided by the Cincinnati Fire Department --which also sent several emergency personnel to the CHLOREP seminar. Gary Evans of Fermco was the guest speaker following the banquet. The CHLOREP Committee has set in motion the planning process for a combined CHLOREP seminar and TRANSCAER workshop to be held in the Tampa, Florida area in mid-spring 1995. Watch for details in future issues of the INSIDER. DO A 027053 CONFTDFNTTAI Flammability of CFC Refrigerant Alternatives, Chlorine Revisited Nearly two years ago, the Chlorine Institute sponsored a "CFC Refrigerant Alternatives Seminar" during which a paper was presented by Dan O'Shaughnessey of Dow Chemical indicating that two such alternatives are flammable with chlorine under certain conditions. Although the white paper and a letter regarding this situation were sent to all Official Correspondents in the Spring of 1993, the Cl Plant Operations and Safety Committee (POSC) recently resent these documents. The POSC's concern was that some members may not be aware that HFC-134a and HCFC-22 are flammable with chlorine under certain process conditions that can occur. HFC-123 is not. Also, DuPont recently used the Dow data to analyze the chlorine processing equipment at NIACHLOR in Niagara Falls, NY. It was found that flammable conditions could indeed develop, and some equipment^*, would be unable to contain the pressure rise should*^ combustion occur. The Institute recommends that anyone currently using or considering using either of the referenced refrigerants in a process where contact with chlorine could occur (e.g. through a leak) conduct a comprehensive hazard analysis addressing this flammability factor. This should include a thorough review of the Dow paper. Those who would like a copy of the Dow paper or a contact at DuPont are asked to contact Art Dungan, Cl vice president of safety, health, and environment. Cl President Gives Testimony To EPA On Proposed D/DBP Rule On November 1, Cl President Bob Smerko appeared before EPA officials in Washington, to give testimony during public hearings on the agency's proposed rule regarding drinking water disinfectants and disinfection byproducts (D/DBP). He was accompanied by John Westendorf, manager of water quality for Occidental Chemical Corp.; Dr. Robert Tardiff, vice president of health sciences for EA Engineering, Science, and Technology (a consultant for the Institute); and Art Dungan, Cl's vice president for safety, health and environment. Bob's comments addressed three major problems the Institute has with the proposed rule and he offered four specific recommendations for changes in the proposed regulation. However, before he addressed the trio of problems, he told the EPA panel, "The Institute believes that the negotiated rulemaking process, or REG-NEG for short, was a flawed process and produced a result which is neither justified nor protective of human health." _ The three problems the Chlorine Institute has with the rule as presented by the president to EPA are: - The proposed rule does not pro perly balance microbial and chemical risks to minimize the overall risk to public health. _ The proposed rule does not use the most current data to set risk levels. _ The proposed rule sets different tolerable risk levels for byproducts from alternate disinfectants without justification. After expounding on these three points of contention. Bob presented the following four recommended changes to the proposed rule: Eliminate Stage II maximum con- '95 Meeting Includes Ind. Hygiene Workshop The Industrial Hygiene Workshop Planning Task Group met recently at the Institute to finalize plans for the March 16, 1995 workshop in Houston, Texas. The workshop will be held in conjunction with the Cl Annual Meeting and Trade Show at the J.W. Marriott Hotel, 5150 Westheimer Road, in Houston. The resultant schedule includes presentations on principles of indus trial hygiene; pertinent regulations; a review of CIIT's Inhalation Bioassay study on chlorine; passive monitoring systems for chlorine; and information sources and resources. Also, there will be four "breakout" groups which will address establish ing and auditing an industrial hygiene program; personal protective equip ment (emphasizing respiratory protec- tion); Medical Surveillance; and Mercury and Asbestos issues. Further details and registration information will be included in future mailings to Cl members. Industrial hygienists, safety, and management officials from non-member companies in related industries will be invited to participate. The Industrial Hygiene Workshop Planning Task Group participants are: Larry Burmeier, Dow Chemical; Pat Logue, Georgia Gulf Corp.; Andrew Jacobs, Metro Water District of So. Cal.; Larry Glass, Occidental Chemi cal Corp.; Brian Budzinski, Olin Corp.; and Brad Clement, Vulcan Materials Co., who chairs the work group. Art Dungan, Cl vice president of safety, health and environment, is the staff member of the task group. taminant levels (MCLs) for trihalomethanes (TTHMs) and haloacetic acids (HAA5). Eliminate Stage I MCL for HAA5. Eliminate the lower Stage I MCL for TTHMs. Establish a definitive treatment technology requirement for those water systems which, due to the disinfection technology employed, could generate the disinfection byproduct bromate above the level of concern. The Institute will be submitting^ written comments to EPA on the D/DBP rule prior to the deadline of Dec. 29, 1994. Cl members also are encouraged to submit comments. To help in this process, the Chlorine Chemistry Council (CCC) has pre pared information packages for those who are interested. The materials may be obtained from Joe Walker at the Council - (202) 887-5412. CHLMJNE DOLS A WORLD OF GOOD HiLS The INSIDER is the member publication of: The Chlorine Institute, Inc. 2001 L St., N.W., #506 Washington, D.C. 20036 President: Robert G. Smerko, Ph.D. Director, Public & Member Communications: Gardner B. Bates V '"""" /_r>0 A DPP054 CONF JDFNT T Al Calendar W Events ? i Dec. 07 Dec. 26 Jan. 02 Jan. 31 Feb. 05-07 Feb. 22-24 Feb. 28 Mar. 12-16 Environment & Health Committee Meeting Christmas Holiday 1995 New Years Holiday Ad Hoc Chlorine Manual Committee Meeting *1995 Packaging Seminar *HCL Meetings Performance Indicators S/G Meeting *CI Annual Meeting and Trade Show Cl - Wash, DC Cl Closed Cl Closed Cl - Wash, DC Miami, Florida Cl - Wash, DC Cl - Wash,D.C. Houston, Texas Indicates new addition since previous publication. CCC Issues Statement On Its Activities Recently, some of chlorine's critics have made statements to the media that cast the Chlorine Chemistry Council (CCC) as a public relations and lobbying group with little scientific underpinning. Therefore, some news coverage to that effect may be expected. Because this activity may prompt questions about CCC from chlor-alkali stakeholders --employees, customers, and communities-- the following has been released by the Council: "[CCC] is dedicated to encouraging science-based public policy regarding chlorine chemistry. CCC's activities include advancing research, promoting product stewardship, disseminating information and engaging in the public policy process. Chlorine chemistry is essential to meeting modern society's most fundamental needs. Ninety-eight percent of U.S. drinking water supplies, 85 percent of all medicines, 95 percent of crop-protection chemicals and many plastics, including polyvinyl chloride (PVC), benefit from chlorine chemistry. Through the application of product stewardship and appropriate technology, these and many other products and associated benefits can be attained safely. At the same time, CCC is committed to working with all interested parties, including government, scientific organizations, academia, environmental groups and other industries to study and develop programs that will address health and environmental issues relating to chlorine chemistry. We also are conducting an . active outreach program to many audiences, including the news media to enhance public understanding of these serious, complex subjects." Paige McMahon, communications director of CCC, encourages anyone receiving inquiries about the CCC and its activities to refer the question to the Council at (202) 887-4760. A Holiday Message The Board of Directors and staff of the Institute extend to all of our valued members and chlor-alkali partners a warm Seasons Greetings and a sincere Happy and Prosperous New Year. THE CHLORINE INSTITUTE, INC. 2001 L Street, N.W., #506 Washington, D.C. 20036 Phone: 202/775-2790 Fax: 202/223-7225 Annual Meeting Information Is On The Way Registration forms, programs and general information about the Institute's 1995 Annual Meeting and Trade Show should be received by the membership in late December, according to Christine Kelly, director of administration. The meeting and exposition will be held at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Houston, Texas, from March 12-16. Particular emphasis will be given to the Mercury Issues Workshop to be held on Sunday, March 12; the Plant Operations Seminar on Wednesday, March 15; the Industrial Hygiene Workshop on Thursday, March 16; and a Tour of Formosa Plastics Corporation's Point Comfort Plant on Thursday March 16. Members who will be attending are reminded that the last date of registration for the best savings is February 13. The Trade Show will be open free to members and the general public for 10 hours during the Mon. through Wed. meetings. Through November, nearly 40 booth spaces are taken by exhibitors. However, there still is room for several more exhibits. Phone the Institute for details. DO A 0PP055 OONFTDFNTTAt