EDITORIAL

Here we go agalnl

IAALIFORNIA has long been recognized as \lthe source for many new ideas and laws that later spread across the rest of the U.S. So when that state recently passed a safe drinking water law, wood treaters, among others, began watching in horrified fascination.

Like so many of these things, Proposition 65, the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, sounded like a good idea. But its real life implementation and the consequences that flow from it are already costing money, causing problems and all with no guarantee of a discernible benefit ensuing.

On February 27, all businesses in the state had to begin warning employees, customers and the general public if they are exposed to any of the 29 substances on the governor's list that are known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. Many of these chemicals occur naturally. In addition to treated wood, other products affected by the warning requirements include such widely used items as soup, aspirin, paper and nuts. It is expected that within a year the warning list will include nearly 200 substances.

Treaters, industry associations and others have been scrambling to provide the legally required signs and other paraphernalia of compliance. A sample sign:

Warning

DAVID CUTLER publlsher

Detectrble smounts of chemlcals known lo the Strte of Crllfornh to cause crncer, blrth defects, or other reproducllve hrrm mry be found In and rround thls facillty.

(('alifornia llcshh ond Safety ('ode. sclion 25249.6)

Final regulations have yet to be issued by the state but it is widely expected at this juncture that dealers, wholesalers, and distributors, as well as treaters, will be required to put up signs, add warnings to invoices and, perhaps, even to the products themselves.

One leading California treater has already assigned one of its vice presidents to spend full time for the next four months, at least, visiting wholesale and dealer customers to explain the provisions of this latest effort by government to ensure a risk free world. Underwritten financially by, you guessed it, the business community.

It is expected that professionally operated treating facilities will find no insurmountable difficulties complying, but that obsolete or marginal plants and operations may well have to close. As the situation comes into sharper focus, we'll keep you posted on this latest manifestation of the environmental movement that has been such a remarkable factor in shaping the second half of this century.

We Can Nandle It

We're an experlenced, professlonal building material carrier using all company owned equipment driven by company drivers. Southern Gulf has 48 state general commodlty authority, common and contract. lntrastate Texas building materlal authorlty statewide. Arkansas and Oklahoma intrastate buildlng materials authorlty.

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