Document wqNnxkBmBZVLMxzj9Vj8rrJn3

teroffice >mmunication to: Plant Managers, Communication Contacts RECTD./MFG. MUR 19 '86 From: Date: Subject: Jim Rutledge March 17, 1985 CMA Policy "if-Needed" Statement Route: Copy: Tickle: File: X-F: Destroy: The attached nif-neededM statement has been approved for use should we receive any media queries on the new CMA policy statement cc TGG, DAK, MSR, JCB, DLM i I i VHR 5200 if-Needed Statement CMA Policy Statement All Vista Pfants Date approved for use: 3/17/86 The Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA) has recently issued a policy statement concerning air toxics control. This policy is designed to: help minimize accidental and process emissions of toxic chemicals; address public concerns; and develop better information on emissions and their effects, to assure fully informed action by both government and industry. The CMA policy summarizes ongoing activities which many in the chemical industry, including Vista Chemical, have been actively engaged in for a number of years. For companies which have not been as active in these areas, the CMA policy provides detailed guidelines and procedures to help them develop suitable programs. As a result of wide public concerns growing out of recent events, Vista Chemical and many others in the chemical industry are devoting increased time and effort to the types of activities covered in the policy statement. We at Vista Chemical have instituted a formal program to reassess our existing safety systems and emergency procedures. This assessment includes detailed studies of the materials present in our plants; the handling, processing and storage of those materials; employee training and emergency response procedures. We want to be certain that we are operating our plants in a manner that is safe, and which will prevent chemical emergencies from affecting local communities. We've also broadened our studies to include the surrounding communities. At our Lake Charles and Baltimore plants, for example, we have joined together with other local industries, as well as medical, governmental, police and fire agencies, to improve our mutual communication and response to chemical emergencies. We're participating in working groups to examine such topics as the availability of local emergency medical care, direct public warning systems and evacuation routes which might be needed in the unlikely event of a major emergency. For any follow-up questions by the media, use the material included in the If-Needed Statement on "Air Emissions" (dated 2128186) #### 5201 Page 1