Severe regulations shaking out treating industry

Washington, D.C., seeking to negotiate for more time. "lf we get an extension, we'll be okay," she said.

"There is hope. As they say in Washington, we're cautiously optimistic," said Victor Lindenheim, American Wood Preservers Institute's vice president of regulatory affairs. AWPI continues to work with the federal government, especially the Oflice of Management and Budget, which recommended that EPA reevalute its ruling. Thus far, EPA has ignored OMB's advice, said the AWPI.

Story at a Glance

Tough new EPA standards re quire millions of dollars in re trofits. hundreds of treating plants predicted to go under, supply to shrink, prices to escalate. strict drip pad require ments blamed.

AWPI's main arguments are that most companies need more time, that no plant can guarantee "zero" drip in the storage yard, that many drip pad design and operating standards and equipment cleaning regulations are inappropriate and impractical, and that certain costs far outweigh their environmental benefits.

They point to the low cost effectiveness of establishing and enforcing the regulations compared to the allotment of the federal budget used to prevent fatalities by other causes. To save less than one life by listing wood preserving chemicals as hazardous waste would cost $5.7 trillion, according to a risks and costeffectivness table included in the Budget for Fiscal Year 1992.

"It's pretty ridiculous," said the western treater. "It's not practical and, in some ways, not even physically possible. I don't know what else (EPA) could come up with. They're pretty close to the moon."

Treaters are used to being shaken by the EPA. But, analysts predict, the industry has never before felt a quake of this magnitude.

Hazardous Waste Rule Deadllnes (CCA/Creosotel

ARIZONA. .... Dec., l99l; June, 1992

CALIFORNIA....... June 6. l99l

COLORADO ..... l-2 years

HAWAII .....June6. l99l

IDAHO ... June 6, l99l

MONTANA June 6, l99l

NEYADA ,..... Mid-Summer 1991

NEW MEXICO.To Be Announced

OREGON Mid-1982

UTAH. To Be Announred

WASHTNGTON Mid-1992

WYOMING June 6. l99l