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ATRICT new Environmental ProDtecrion Agency regulations are expected to cause a major shakeout in the pressure treating industry, closing perhaps hundreds of plants and leading to possible treated wood shortages and higher prices.

The EPA declared three categories of waste flrom wood preserving operations were to be listed as hazardous. Key is the ruling's Subpart W, which governs the drip pads which convey excess preservative or drippage and rain water to a collection system. Different compliance deadlines state by state, some as early as June 6, are to be enforced with severe penalties.

But the huge costs of revamping facilities would force the closure of an EPA-estimated 20-250/o to an industry-predicted 500/o of U.S. treaters, said industry legislative committee chairman Bob Hawes, Mellco, Inc., Perry, Ga.

Commonplace is the $500,000 a year treater who, under the new standards, requires a $l-2 million overhaul. "The cost of compliance exceeds the total net worth of the industry," said Hawes.

For the retailer, supply will likely be slashed and prices hiked by as much as $100 per thousand board feet, forecast Hawes.

The plants most likely to survive are larger volume businesses with greater capital backing and newer or recently modernized plants requiring fewer upgrades.

On the whole, plants situated in the west and using CCA may be in a better position than those in the south or those using penta or creosote, since the plants are often newer. "We're on the good end, but a lot will shut down because they can't comply or it just isn't worth it," said one western wood preserver.

Another major Southeast wood preserver, who plans to shut down treating plants by June 6, sighed, "We're tired of fooling with it." Other treaters feel as if they're on an "EPA hit list."

But even companies who have continually kept up with Agency moves will find themselves with steep expenses. "We've always tried to stay ahead of the game," said Charline Muller, Conroe Creosoting Co.. Conroe. Tx.

Muller and other industry representatives recently returned from an industry legislative conference in