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Call For Papers... For Structural Foam Division's 16th Annual Conference and Parts Competition scheduled for April 10-13,1988 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.., Coal of papers and presentations should be to further use ofstructural foam in industry . . . Papers should be of technical, educational or informational nature and should not be intended to promote a company's products ... Preferred format is case study ... Range of technology discussed in conference will be extended to center on larger part molding using a variety ofprocesses to include structural foam, RIM and structural blow molding.,, Conference will give industry an opportunity to explore new markets for structural foam--consumer electronics, material handling, medical, building/construction, transportation, agriculture and recreation/leisure--in addition to traditional computer and business equipment market... Deadline for receipt of abstracts is November 1, 1987 ... Deadline for receipt ofcompleted papers, ifabstractis accepted, is February 1,1988... Send abstracts to: Structural Foam Division, SPI, 355 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017. Mold Lien Bill Enacted In Illinois... Illinoismolders may now seek relief from non-paying customers under the state's new mold lien act... Legislation enacted in September provides plastic and metal processors recourse for non payment of services by allowing them to legally take possession ofand sell a customer's moldafter fulfilling certain notification requirements ... SPI members and staff helped rally support for the SPI-initiated bill . . . Additional information: State Government Affairs Department, SPI, (202) 371-5208. Additional Exhibit Space Available At 1988 NPE , . . Sold-out National Plastics Exposition and Conference, scheduled for June 20-24 in Chicago, has made available an additional 40,000 square feet ofexhibit space... NPE is largest plastics show in U.S.... More than 900 companies will show the latest innovations in plastics materials, machinery, equipment, technology ... Additional information: Jordan Morgenstern/Brigid Donnelly, SPI, (202) 371-5249. r. I Additional information about any item in this issue of the newsletter may be obtained by contacting the Public Relations Department in Washington, D.C., 1275 K Street, N.W. Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20005 (202) 3715200. Inquiries to the New York office should be directed to: 355 Lexington Ave., New York, NY10017. August Resin Statistics \ L * I a August 1987 July 1987 August 1986 EH QProduction Sales/Captive Use Resin Production Up From Last Year ... Production of plastics resins totaled 4.116 billion pounds in August, up 11.4 percent from the same month last year... August figures show a .4 percent increase in production over the previous month... Production for the first eight months of 1987 totaled 31.878 billion pounds, a 9.7 percent increase over the same period last year ... Sales and captive (internal) use of plastics resins in August amounted to 4.040 billion pounds, reflecting a 7.6 per cent increase from the same month a year ago... For the eightmonth period ending August 31, 1987, sales and c^itivc use are running 11.6 percent ahead of last year .., August figures are based on final data on selected major plastics material as com piled by Ernst & Whinney for SPI's Committee on Resin Statistics... Additional information: Statistics Department, SPI, (202) 371-5288. Annual Report Available From Plastics Recvclinn Foundation . . . Plastics Recycling Foundation's 1987 Annual Report explains the purpose and goals of research funded by the Foundation; highlights findings of completed research; and explains projects currently underway which focus on collection, reclamation anddevelopment ofmarkets for recycled plastics... In last two years, more than S2.5 million has been devoted to plastics recycling research, including industry, state and university contributions coordinated through the Foundation... For free copy ofAnnual Report, write; Plastics Recycling Fpi(ndBnoiV 1275 K Street, N.W., Suite 400. Washington, DXf20tX)5~ BOR 007469 Page 2 Technical Paper On "PVC Pipe And Drinking Water Safety" . . . Now available from SPI's Vinyl Institute... Provides a concise, comprehensive review oflatest research affirming the safety ofPVC pipe in water distribution applications . . . Paper cites recent research conducted by McKesson Environmental Services, Battelle Memorial Institute and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health that disproves allegations about leaching, permeation and worker health hazards ... Copies available from: Vinyl Institute, 155 Route 46 West, Wayne, New Jersey 07470. Moldmakers Division Presents 1'JS" Distinguished SerOce Award ... To Frank S. Mana on October 8 at the 14th Annual Moldmakers Conference in San Diego ... Mana's accomplishments include service on both the SPE and SPI Moldmakers Division Board ofDirectors ... Marra was with D-M-E Company from 1949 until 1982 and worked his way up from sales engineer to president... He remains active in industry through Marra International Associates ... Distinguished Service Award is given on an asneeded basis in recognition of exceptional leadership and major contributions to the advancement of the industry and the association... Additional information: Moldmakers Division, SPI, (202) 371-5226. 1 !'v i - ! 1 . . Expanded Polystyrene Conference planned for October 30-31, 1987, The Brown Hotel, Denver, Colorado... Topics include "The Styrene Monomer Crunch," "The Pentane Panic of '87," "Quality Assurance," "Operating Technical Problems" and more . . , On-site registration: SI 10/person .,. Open to SPI members only ... Additional information: EPS Division, SPI, (202) 371-5226. Plastics Industry Leader Dies... James Jackson, chairman of SPI's Vinyl Siding Institute from 1968-71, died in September... Last position was with Bird & Son, Inc... Jackson was a resident of Orleans, Massachusetts. Machinery Division Elects New Officers ... At September 14-15 semi-annual business meeting... Two-term officers are: Chairman -- Don Williams, AEC, Inc.; Vice Chairman -- Fran Drury, Somerset Tcchnologics/Hartig Division; Blow Molding Section Chairman -- Dane Belden, Somerset Technologies/Hartig Division; Extrusion Section Chairman -- Gary Campbell, Welding Engineers; Injection Section Chairman -- Drex Winsted, Cincinnati Milacron; Auxiliary Section Chairman -- Don Rainville, Universal Dynamics. Solid Waste Technical Committee Formed... To address the need for technical data to support industry positions in relation to solid waste disposal, particularly in Suffolk County, New York . .. Group is chaired by Bemie Myers of Arco Chemical . . . Additional information: Technical Department, SPI, (202) 371-5203. SPI Submits CFC Proposal To EPA ... SPI proposal on chlorofluorocarbon regulations specific to plastics foam industry was submitted to Environmental Protection Agency on October 1 in anticipation of the agency's D^ember 1 deadline to propose regulations... SPI requested that regulations implementing the CFC breeze called for in the recently signed international protocol require producers to dedicate a pro-rata portion of the CFCs they produce for foam blowing . .. SPI's proposal is based on consideration of results of its economic impact analysis of CFC controls... CFCs are used to make flexible foam, foam insulation and packaging. . . Additional information: Federal Government Affairs Department, SPI, (202) 371-5281. Literature Catalog Available . . . SPI's 1987-88 Literature Catalog provides listings and ordering information for more than 350 Society publications and audio/visual presentations, including conference proceedings and technical reports from SPI's 29 operating units . . . Catalog has been mailed to all Plastics News Briefs recipients... If you haven't received your copy, write: Literature Sales Department, SPI, 1275 K Street, N.W., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20005. Western Mntdcrs Conference . . . Scheduled for November 12-16,1987 in Kauai, Hawaii.., Presentations to include "Economic Forecasting," "The Penalties of Hiring Illegal Aliens," "Personnel Records -- An Employer's Guidelines," "Remanufacture of Injection Molding Machines -- A Visible Alternative to the Purchase of New Machinery" ... Registration: $285/person... Additional information: SPI Western Office, (213) 864-2793. Vinyl Products Valued By Builders . . . Vinyl Institute's news release about the value of vinyl products used in the home has generated an estimated 380 articles in newspapers reaching more than four million readers... Vinyl products such as gutters, house siding, window frames, and vertical blinds are prized for versatility and durable con struction by builders and homeowners alike ... Release was based on Vi's recent survey of architects and building code industry professionals. `Mwlflid i Deign \nd * ppikalinn"" . Subject of Industrial Conference sponsored by the Expanded Polystyrene Division... To be held October 29 at the Clarion Hotel Denver Airport in Denver, Colorado ... EPS industry representatives from leading companies will discuss the properties and applications, design tips, and new processing developments of molded EPS and related moldable foams ... Day will conclude with case history presentations by a panel of end-users in electronics, medical and other industries... On site registration: SI65/person... Additional information: EPS Division, SPI, (202) 371-5226. BOR 007470 IfiiHiaH--lHWi~lsi i......... The Society of tho Plasties Industry, Inc. wm 1275 K Street, N.W. Suite 400 Washington, DC 20005 (202) 371*5200 Vol. vm, No. 18 October 2,1987 SPI Testifies On Plastics And Municipal Solid Waste Issues; Plastics Bill Moves In House SPI testified on the recycling and incineration of plastics during an October 1 Senate hearing investigating issues under the federal solid waste disposal law. The Senate Environment Hazardous Waste and Toxics Substances Subcommittee, chaired by Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), held its second in a series of oversight hearings on the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), which regulates the disposal of solid and hazardous waste, in anticipation of its reauthorization and amendment. Lewis R. Freeman, Jr., Vice President, Government Affairs, SPI, outlined the organization's recently adopted statement on municipal solid waste issues. Freeman testified that SPI supports "a comprehensive management scheme for disposal of municipal solid waste, involving the following elements: recycling of materials after their originally-intended use has been satisfied, either as individual materials or co-mingled products; waste-to-energy incineration with resource recovery; and landfill disposal where recycling or incineration are not appropriate or effective." Testifying that a greater dependence must be placed upon recovering the value of post-consumer materials by recycling them for other uses, or through waste-to-energy incineration. Freeman outlined SPI activity in both of these areas. Mr. Freeman stated that SPI supports recycling of plastics' waste whenever "it is economically and technically feasible to do so." He cited SPI's policy in support of expanded research and development to increase the recycling of plastics, through the Plastics Recycling Foundation and other efforts. Mr. Freeman reminded the committee that while plastics are recyclable the technologies Continued on page 2 SPI Submits CFC Regulatory Proposal To EPA; Scientists Announce Prelimin ary Results From Antarctica SPI on October 1 submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) a proposal on chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) regulations specific to the plastics foam industry in anticipation of the Agency's December 1 deadline to propose regulations. CFCs are used to make flexible foam, foam insulation and packaging. After careful consideration of the results of SPI's economic impact analysis of CFC controls, the SPI CFC Ad Hoc Steering Committee concluded that the only regulatory plan that would lessen the disproportionately high economic impact of CFC regulations on the foam blowing industry would be special treatment. SPI has recommmended that in regulations implementing the CFC production freeze called for in the recently signed international protocol, producers would be required to dedicate a pro-rata portion of the CFCs they Continued on page 3 Washington Memo is published by The Society of the Plastics Industry's Federal Government Affairs Department. For more information about any item contained in this newsletter, contact SPI's Federal Government Affairs staff at (202) 371-5200. BOR 007471 (Solid Waste continued from first page) to do so differ from plastic to plastic, as do the economics of collection and markets for reuse. Mr. Freeman told the panel that SPI supports waste-to-energy incineration as an economically efficient and environmentally sound method for disposing of a majority of our nation's solid waste. Further, he said this is not viewed by SPI as an alternative solution to recycling, but rather as the major part of the solution for society's handling of solid waste. Freeman advised Senators that because plastics are derived from petroleum by-products, plastics enhance the fuel mix of municipal waste incinerators. Responding to concerns about incinerator emissions. Freeman testified that SPI endorses the concept of national emissions standards for municipal solid waste incinerators. Other witnesses included representatives of the paper industry, can manufacturers, lead smelting and directors of several local government recycling programs. The Subcommittee anticipates a third oversight hearing in November. In a related matter, the House Merchant Marine Committee September 22 approved Rep. Gerry Studds' (D-MA) bill, H.R. 940, the" Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act of 1987." The Studd's bill would implement Annex V to the National Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from ships, known as MARPOL. Annex V prohibits the disposal of plastic garbage from ships at sea. The committee adopted several amendments expanding upon the bill's provisions calling for a study of the impact of plastic pollution on the marine environment and a study on land-based sources of plastics .pollution. The committee approved an amendment by Rep. Mike Lowry (D-WA) that would require that by September 30,1988, EPA's report to Congress include: (1) an identification of the types and classes of plastic materials in the marine environment which are from land-based sources; (2) steps being taken by EPA to reduce the amount of plastic materials that enter the marine environment from those sources; (3) an analysis of whether the production or sale of certain types or classes of non-degradable plastic materials should be prohibited, taxed, or regulated in any other manner, and (4) recommend legislation which is necessary to prohibit, tax, or regulate land-based sources of plastic materials that enter the marine environment Rep. Lowry's amendment also expanded the requirements of the bill's Commerce Department study due September 30,1988, to include: (1) an identification and quantification of the harmful effects of plastic materials on the marine environment; (2) a specific assessment of the effects of plastics materials on living marine resources; (3) an identification of the types and classes of plastics that pose the greatest potential hazard to living marine resources; (4) an analysis to determine whether degradable plastics can be reduced to environmentally benign subunits; and (5) recommend legislation which is necessary to prohibit, tax, or regulate sources of plastic materials that enter the marine environment. The Lowry amendment also calls for a federal government three-year plastic pollution education program to educate a variety of industry and consumer groups regarding the need to further reduce plastics entering the environment. Finally, on September 22 the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved treaty ratification of Annex V to the international treaty. The full Senate is expected to act on the proposal soon. For copies of any testimony or additional information call SPI Federal Government Affairs at (202) 371-5282. 2 BOR 007472 (CFCs continued from firstpage) produce for foam blowing. SPI asked for the set-aside only until chemical substitutes are commercially available. In a related matter, scientists who had recently been studying the phenomenon of the seasonal Antarctic ozone "hole" held a press conference to provide some very preliminary findings from their research. Essentially, the scientists said that the weight of observational evidence strongly suggests that both chemical and meteorological mechanisms perturbed the ozone. They noted that until they better understand the cause or causes of the springtime Antarctic hole, they will not be able to address the key question - what are the global implications of the Antarctic ozone hole - in a responsible manner. More specific findings are expected to be announced in six months. For a copy of their documents outlining the preliminary findings call SPI Federal Government Affairs. EPA Proposes Performance Standards for New Polymer Production Facilities The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed standards September 30 to limit emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from new, modified and reconstructed polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate) (PET) production plants under Section 111 of the Gean Air Act (52 FR 36678). The proposed standards address the polymer manufacturing industry involved in operations that convert monomer or chemical intermediate materials from the petroleum refining or petrochemical industry into polymers or copolymers. The proposed emission standards would require 98 percent reduction of emissions of total organic compounds contained in gas streams continuously discharged to the atmosphere from new sources. In addition, the proposed standards define an "affected facility" as each process section of the operation. The total number of regulated facilities in the plant would depend on the number of process lines and the sharing of process sections by more than one process line. A process section is defined as "that group of equipment designed to carry out one of five steps of polymer production - raw materials preparation, polymerization reaction, material recovery, product finishing and product storage." All equipment and fugitive emission sources are to be included. The comment period deadline is December 10,1987. EPA will schedule a hearing if requested by the public. SPI is reviewing the proposed standards. For a copy of the proposal call SPI Federal Government Affairs at (202) 371-5283. Regulatory Update EPA EPA Issues Modifications To Procedures Governing Test Rules Under TSCA - The Environmental Protection Agency issued two interim final rules amending the regulations for developing and implementing testing requirements under Section 4 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The first rule would modify the definition of the test standard for two-phase test rules and eliminate the requirement for the submission of final study plans for tests required under the two-phase test rules. This interim rule became effective September 30,1987. The second interim final rule amends the procedures governing modification of test standards and schedules for tests required under test rules and consent agreements. This rule will become effective October 30. 1987, Comments on both interim final rules are due by October 30,1987. Notice published September 30,1987 (52 FR 36568, 36569). Continued on page 4 3 BOR 007473 (Regulatory Update continued from page 3) PHS/NTP OSHA EPA Proposes to Add New Test Guidelines Under Toxic Substances Control Act - The Environmental Protection Agency proposed to add new test guide lines of general procedure for laboratory testing under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for an effect or characteristic deemed important for evaluating the fate and environmental hazatds of a chemical substance or mixture. These general guide lines may be utlilized in developing chemical-specific TSCA Section 4 test rules. Comments on the proposed guidelines are due November 27,1987. Notice published September 28,1987 (52 FR 36334). EPA Schedules Workshop on Interim Methods For Inhalation Reference Doses - The Environmental Protection Agency has scheduled a workshop to review a draft document Interim Methodsfor Development ofInhalation Reference Doses. Workshop topics include: factors modulating species-comparative inhaled dose; guidelines for selection of key studies; dose-response relationships and the uncertainty factor approach; identification of sensitive population sub-groups; and use of occupational exposure levels in inhalation risk estimation. The workshop will be held on October 5-6,1987, from 10:00 to 5:00 p.m. in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Notice published September 18,1987 (52 FR 35321). EPA Issues Rule Requiring Small Quantity Generators of Hazardous Waste To Report Missing Manifests - The Environmental Protection Agency issued a final rule under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act requiring small quantity generators of hazardous waste (100-1000 kg) to notify EPA when it has not received notification from a designated waste handling facility of the receipt of a shipment of hazardous waste. It requires that notification from the designated facility be received by the generator within 60 days after the waste was accepted by an initial transporter. The rule applies to all waste shipped after March 23,1988 and will become effective March 23,1988. Notice published September 23,1987 (52 FR 35894). NTP Lists Draft Technical Reports Projected for Peer Review - The Public Health Service National Toxicology Program published a listing of draft Technical Reports projected for evaluation by the NTP Board of Scientific Couselors Technical Reports Review Subcommittee and associated ad hoc Panel of Experts during the next 12 to 18 months. Study chemicals projected for peer review used in the plastics industry include aleyl glycidyl ether, hydroquinone, toluene and vinyl toluene. Notice published September 25,1987 (52 FR 36108). OSHA Schedules Public Meeting To Discuss Recent Expansion of Hazard Communication Standard- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has scheduled a meeting to solicit comments from a wide range of individuals and organizations on the information collection requirements of the expanded Hazard Communication Standard. (See September 18 edition of Washington Memo.) OSHA is requesting comments on the following aspects of the expanded standard: burden estimates; transmittal of hazard information; consumer products; sealed containers; multi-employer worksites; solid products; generic hazard communication program; computerized systems; coverage of "de minimis" exposures; and the impact on the federal community right-to-know law. The meeting will be held at the New Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C. on October 16 beginning at 9:00 a.m. All written comments should be submitted to OMB by October 19,1987. Notice published September 30, 1987 (52 FR 36652). BOR 007474 4