Document ymm99XRj7rZ7Y7NBBVBaBqv86

The International Club 1800 K Street, NW Washington, DC 20006 The Vinyl Institute Executive Board Meeting June 29, 1984 Friday 9:00 a.m. Attendees: Absent Arthur L. Baker, PPG Industries Dr. Bart DiLiddo, BFGoodrich Chemical Group Guy E. Disch, Tenneco Polymers Dr. Roy T. Gottesman, The Vinyl Institute Jerome H. Heckman, Keller & Heckman Dr. Michael M. O'Mara, BFGoodrich Chemical Group Steven Schaefer, Occidental Chemical Meredith N. Scheck, The Vinyl Institute George R. Snider, BFGoodrich Chemical Group Ron Taylor, Dow Chemical Fred Timpe, CertainTeed Larry Wheeler, Shell Chemical Hal Andresen, Vinyl Council of Canada Robert Buehler, BFGoodrich Company Daniel Kent, Consultant (in part) H. R. Flammer, Vista Chemical Robert Sander, Air Products & Chemicals Todd Walker, Borden Chemical Following self introductions, the minutes of the Executive Board meeting of April 24, 1984 were approved by a voice vote. 1. Financial Report Mr. Wheeler provided a report for the fiscal year which ended May 31. He noted that while a slight surplus had been expected, in actuality a slight deficit resulted. However, no cash flow problems ensued. The main reasons for the slight deficit were the receipt of two billings in May from three contractors that payments during the fiscal year represented billings for 13 months. In total, expenditures came very close to budget and Mr. Wheeler provided a detailed analysis of the variances that were experienced. At Dr. DiLiddo's recommendation, costs for legal services will be looked at on a quarterly basis to assure that the budgeted amounts are not being exceeded. SPl-09114 2 Mr. Wheeler made a motion that the previously budgeted sum of $20,000 for PVC incineration studies be reduced to $5,000 and that the resulting $15,000 be placed into the contingency account. The motion was seconded by Mr. Taylor and approved by a unanimous voice vote. Roy Gottesman advised that payments have been received from eight companies on the first half 1984-85 fiscal year assessment. Thus far, $311,805.50 has been received representing 71.77. of the assessments billed. 2. Committee reports a) Codes and Regulatory - A separate committee report was not given in view of the special presentation at the end of the meeting. b) Communications - Committee Chairman George Snider reviewed the issues facing the industry including: The New York State recommendations by Secretary of State Gail Shaffer The National Task Force on Fire Toxicity CPSC activity The Gray-Davis bill in California Permeation and California EIR He further reviewed the various Public Relations projects including the fire service exhibits, the slide/tape show, media contacts, the new Technical Reference papers, and reported on current activities including revisions of older literature, obtaining a spokesman from the fire community and the clearance of the PVC liquor bottle. Mr. Snider reported on the completion of the copy and layout for an Annual Report which will be very useful in reaching not only the media, but other audiences. After discussion, it was agreed that Roy Gottesman would advise the Board members of the availabiltiy of a specified number of copies of this report (as part of their membership fee) and if they wish to distribute additional copies in mailings to their customers, they will be requested to advise him so that these can be printed at the time of the original press run. Those requestirg additional copies of this Annual Report will be billed at the cost for the printing. c) Legal - In the absence of the committee chairman, Susan Litzau, Roy Gottesman advised that the committee continues to work very closely with the Communications Committee reviewing items that are either to be published or statements that are to be made on behalf of the Institute. There have been no meetings of the Legal Committee since the last Board meeting. SPI-09115 3 d) Manufacturing Practices - In the absence of Committee Chairman W. C. Holbrook, Roy Gottesman reported on the activities of this committee. He noted that a draft revision package for industry and public review is to be submitted by EPA in July on revisions to the Vinyl Chloride Standard. The National Air Pollution Control Techniques Advisory Committee (NAPTAC) will meet late in August to receive comments on these revisions. In behalf of the Safety Subcommittee, Roy Gottesman presented their plans for a safety seminar to reach both local regulatory bodies and an initiative towards the public. After discussion, the Board agreed that while there should be interaction, the value of such a program is questionable and might result in issues being surfaced that really are "non-issues" at the present time. It was requested that the Executive Director advise the subcommittee that the Board is not in favor of pro ceeding with the proposed initiative towards local regulatory bodies or towards the public. Emphasis should be on safe practices in the working environment. They should also pro ceed to develop a format of a safety award. e) Technical - Dr. Michael O'Mara, chairman of the Technical Committee, reported on recent committee activities as follows: 1. Dioxin - Professor Karasek's work substantiates the view that the incineration of PVC does not lead to Dioxin. Thus, the problem is not a technical one but rather one of public perception. Dr. O'Mara indicated that a Task Group is to be set up within the Technical Committee to follow this issue and to keep current on developing literature. 2. Pipe Permeation - Phase II of the program involving water saturated with varius solvents is virtually complete and within the next few weeks the debate will be whether Phase III is to proceed. Dr. O'Mara feels that we can now step away from this permeation issue, especially in view of the fact that the State of California is to carry out its own tests. 3. Fire Research - Phase I involving fire studies in the plenum have been completed and two technical publications are being prepared. An agreement is virtually complete with the National Bureau of Standards Center for Fire Safety so that we can work together. As a consequence, results from Vinyl Institute's sponsored studies will be put into the NBS fire models. SPI-09116 4 4. Medical Program - Dr. O'Mara reported on the work of the Medical Subcommittee. He indicated that there is a serious problem if it is to be funded properly and, if it is not possible to fund it properly, none of the work should be carried out. Dr. O'Mara reviewed the missions and objec tives of the medical program and the past history. It is his judgement that it is necessary to counter the negative Alarie information with hard data. All are convinced that hydrogen chloride is not the problem and it is necessary to determine the fate and the long term/short term toxicity of hydrogen chloride from burning PVC. Dr. O'Mara briefly described the program which consists of the following items: 1. The necessity to test the validity of the cannulated rat as a model for HC1 toxicity in man. 2. The determination of the effects of real-world fire concen trations of HC1 (less than 300 ppm) on the pulmonary function for primates. 3. Evaluation of the CO2 challenge method for assessing pulmonary damage. This will require labeling studies on HC1. The first program which will involve labeled HC1 will require $20,000 plus an additional $180,000. Phase II which involves an evaluation of the Phase I work and following experiments, will require $50,000. 4. Phase III experimentation using PVC will require an addition al $200,000. Dr. O'Mara indicated that he would try to see if the experiments involving HC1 can be truncated so that experiments involving PVC can be started at an earlier date. Mr. Wheeler made a motion to allocate up to $100,000 from the contingency monies to support expanded medical studies after Dr. O'Mara has evaluated the possibility of limiting the studies on HC1 so as to get into work on PVC earlier. This motion was seconded by Mr. Taylor and approved unanimously by voice vote. 3. Legal Counsel's Report In addition to the written report under Tab H in the program and agenda for the meeting, The Vinyl Institute Legal Counsel Jerome Heckman reported his concern of some recent activity within the Justice Department. While the case involving Conoco in the EPA suit is in abeyance, the Justice Department has been urging that they be permitted to get documents under Section 114 of the Clean Air Act. Mr. Heckman also reported on the Safe Drinking Water rule-making. SPI-09117 5 Finally, Mr. Heckman reported his concerns in the Product Liability area in view of the recent Bendectin case in Cincinnati where Judge Rubin had sent a memo to the defendants where he has recommended that the defendant (Dow) negotiate a settlement in the cases filed before the cases have gone to trial. 4. Executive Director's Report Roy Gottesman presented the Executive Director's Report on activities since the last Board meeting. These are contained in Tab I of the program and agenda for the meeting. 5. Membership Roy Gottesman reported on recent contacts with Shintech, Formosa Plastics, and Georgia Pacific relative to their joining The Vinyl Institute. At the present time, none of these companies appear to be active prospects. It was noted that Doug Boiler, who had been at the last Board meeting, is no longer with Formosa Plastics. Dr. DiLiddo reported on a recent meeting in Cleveland on May 24th with Bill Ballard, Frank Hovey, and Hal Andresen of The Vinyl Council of Canada. Under the arrangement, which required ratification by the Executive Board of The Vinyl Institute, The Vinyl Council of Canada would be admitted as a full member and would have one voting member on the Institute's Board. Representatives of the member companies would be eligible to attend and participate in all Institute Committee activities and meetings. The Vinyl Council of Canada would officially join the Institute as of July 1, and would pay a membership fee of $40,000 through December 1, 1984. In calendar year 1985, it would pay The Vinyl Institute $80,000 as its membership fee for that calendar year. Effectively then, this would be equivalent to the payment of an $80,000 membership fee in the 1984-85 fiscal year of The Vinyl Institute. Ron Taylor moved that The Vinyl Institute by-laws be revised to permit The Vinyl Council of Canada to join The Vinyl Institute as a full member. The motion was seconded by Mr. Disch and unanimously approved. In the discussion that followed. The Vinyl Institute's counsel, Jerome Heckman, was asked to prepare appropriate by-law language revisions, and it was agreed that this should take the form r admitting only foreign trade associations under such conditions. Roy Gottesman presented an analysis on the feasibility of a consolidation or informal collaboration of the Vinyl Siding Institute, the Vinyl Window and Door Institute, and the Vinyl Formulators Group, all separate SPI divisions, into The Vinyl Institute. His analysis, which included such factors as the membership, organizational structure, principal interest activities, financial information,outside resources employed and meetings, was briefly reviewed. SPI-09118 6 Because of Che limi.Cati.ons on time, it was agreed thac this analysis would be sent to the Board members. Roy Gottesman indicated that the Vinyl Siding Institute, the Vinyl Window and Door Institute, and the Vinyl Formulators will have to be assured that they will not have any greater financial obli gation and that their finances will go further as a result of pooling of finances, resources available and economies of scale. There are certain areas where collaboration can very readily be accomplished to the benefit of all groups. He suggested that the feasibility of either a formal consolida tion or an informal collaboration should be explored by the chairman of The Vinyl Institute Board and/or members of the Board that Dr. DiLiddo designates with the chairmen of the other SPI divisions. Because of time limitations, it was agreed that this subject be considered again at the September Board meeting. 6. Old Business Board members and voting representatives were asked to advise the Executive Director if they wish to designate representatives for a training session at Battelle with regard to the use of Technical Data Base. To this point, responses have only been received from four member companies. Ron Taylor indicated that Dow was not interested in having anyone obtain this training. Responses have been received from Conoco, ICI Americas, Occidental, and Tenneco Polymers. Board members who had not yet responded were requested to do so as soon as possible so that arrangements could be made with the Battelle Institute. 7. New Business a) Use of SPI seal for product certification. Executive Board Chairman DiLiddo indicated that this subject is now active with the SPI Board and that a committee had been designated to develop a rationale on this. For this reason, no further discussion was held by The Vinyl Institute Executive Board. b) Update on PVC Liquor Bottle Mr. Buehler reported that additional congressional interest has been generated with letters to FDA questioning the status of the FDA review of PVC as a packaging material. A number of letters to the FDA have been sent by some five House members and Congress man Latta. At the present time, we are trying to get distillers to also query the FDA. According to Mr. Buehler this has pro ceeded as well as can be expected, and it will continue to be followed to be sure that FDA meets its projected timetable some time in October for a proposed rulemaking. SPI-09119 7 8. Special Presentation Meredith Scheck and Daniel Kent, a consultant to The Institute on Code Activities, provided a special presentation on an Action Plan for respond ing to code activities. This is included under Tab 0 in the program of the Executive Board meeting. The necessity for having participation by company representatives was emphasized and Board members were asked to advise Mrs. Scheck of their participants in this program. The Action Plan, which in volves the development of information packages, a training session and meet ing of company code participants, was approved by the Executive Board and Mrs. Scheck will be responsible along with Mr. Kent for implementing this program. Respect fully/submitted, Roy T. Gottesman SPI-09120