BREAKING NEWS

Katrina impact . . . In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is coordinating response efforts to provide assistance to communities affected by the disaster. In order to expedite these efforts, DHS has activated its National Emergency Resources Registry (NERR), a secure, official U.S. Government Web portal. The system serves as an online clearinghouse to facilitate the coordination efforts between the resources that are needed and those resources that are available from companies like yours. SPI joins the DHS in urging its members -- and all plastics companies who are able -- to register in the NERR any resources you can make available for the disaster response and relief efforts.

Plastics industry resources  . . . In response to a generous outpouring of offers of aid to plastics companies affected by the storm, SPI has created a registry where the plastics community can identify resources they are able to donate for the long-term recovery effort. Information collected through the SPI registry will be posted on the association's Web site, providing a searchable database of resources being made available by the plastics industry. This industry-driven disaster relief effort is aimed specifically at helping the numerous plastics facilities in that region whose businesses have been paralyzed by the hurricane. We urge you to take a few moments to contribute to this worthy cause. PLEASE NOTE: the SPI Resources Registry is only a supplement to government and private emergency response efforts, such as NERR. Any information you provide to SPI will not be provided to federal, state, or local emergency response organizations. To participate in those relief efforts, you must also log onto the DHS Web site. To learn more about SPI's hurricane resource registry or for questions pertaining to the government's NERR Web site, please contact Jeff Trask, SPI's Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy, (202) 974-5210; e-mail relief@socplas.org. SPI expresses its gratitude for all responses to this emergency request.

SPI NEWS

Trask joins SPI as head of Government Affairs . . . Jeff Trask, a veteran government relations and public policy executive, has joined SPI as Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy. For more than a decade, Trask was a regulatory affairs executive with the American Petroleum Institute, with major responsibility for environmental, energy and worker safety issues. He was previously a corporate public affairs officer with Chevron, with environmental research and engineering responsibilities. SPI President Bill Carteaux said he was delighted to have Trask join SPI's top management team. "Jeff brings us great strength and experience in strategy development and advocacy for many of SPI's key issues at both the federal and state levels," Carteaux said. Jeff can be reached at (202) 974-5210; e-mail jtrask@socplas.org.

SPI president urges international cooperation . . . SPI President Bill Carteaux recently attended the annual meeting of the Council of Plastic Industry Association Directors in Stockholm, Sweden, where he urged the world's plastic industries to work more closely together to coordinate responses to environmental and other challenges that are becoming increasingly global. Carteaux said it was essential that industry associations keep each other "in the loop" on developments, initiatives and regulations at the national or regional level that could quickly cross national borders. "We need to keep each other informed on a time-sensitive basis about external developments that may impact our industries, whether they originate with government agencies or NGOs -- and on appropriate industry responses," Carteaux said. He stressed that this was not a matter of pricing or product competitiveness, but of cooperation on policy developments that pose threats to the entire industry, such as the REACH proposals of the European Union. "These proposals are now being promoted in Canada, in Japan and at the state level in various parts of the United States," he said. "It is important that we understand their likely impact on all of our countries -- and what we can do together to ameliorate these impacts and educate our legislators, our customers and the public."

SPI involved in "plastics debris" conference . . . SPI members and SPI staff in California this week participated with government officials in the "Plastics Debris: Rivers to Sea" conference in Redondo Beach, CA, to highlight industry efforts to alleviate plastics waste issues. Co-sponsored by the Algalita Marine Research Foundation and the California Coastal Commission, the conference provided updates on the latest storm water and solid waste management techniques, as well as opportunities for industry, government and the environmental community to engage in a "problem-solving" dialogue. SPI and industry representatives were on hand to discuss the re-vamped and reinvigorated "Operation Clean Sweep" program, which focuses on helping plastics companies achieve Zero Pellet Loss, a priority for the industry and a critical issue for the environment, as spilled pellets often make their way into local waters and end up in the oceans, where they create both a litter problem and a threat to sea life. Watch future issues of SPI Link for additional information.

Another NPE "first" announced . . . SPI announced this week that a new, international multi-exhibitor pavilion for moldmakers from the U.S. and Canada will be featured at the NPE 2006 exposition (June 19-23 in Chicago), offering a wide range of alternatives to visitors seeking design and tooling solutions. The North American Moldmakers Pavilion will be the first such pavilion ever featured at an NPE exposition. It will be jointly sponsored by SPI's Moldmakers Division, the American Mold Builders Association (AMBA), and the Canadian Association of Moldmakers (CAMM). Negotiations now under way may also open the pavilion to Mexican moldmakers as well. "The North American Moldmakers Pavilion will expand the range of moldmaking options available to visitors beyond the already extensive array of tooling-related companies that normally exhibit at NPE," said Walt Bishop, executive director of SPI's Moldmakers Division. "While we expect the vast majority of these previous exhibitors to participate once again, the pavilion provides an attractive opportunity for newcomers, particularly smaller companies, to display their capabilities at NPE." Visit www.npe.org to learn more about NPE.

REGULATORY NEWS

Composites rule revised . . . EPA announced August 25 that it would revise a rule requiring compliance with hazardous air pollutant emission standards for composites manufacturers because of errors and the need for clarifications to help plastics producers comply with the rule. The rule, first imposed in April 2003, set national emissions limits for hazardous air pollutants for reinforced plastics composites production -- such as fiberglass bathtubs and showers -- as well as standards for monitoring, performance testing, recordkeeping and reporting requirements related to the limits. The objective of the rule was to reduce emissions of styrene, methyl methacrylate and methylene chloride (dichloromethane) by 43 percent. In response to "numerous questions related to rule interpretation," EPA's latest revisions clarify some of the rule's language, reports BNA (8/26). For example, EPA said it was making clear that it was not instituting emissions control requirements for all polymer casting and closed-molding operations, but rather would impose these requirements on compression/injection molding operations. Also, the revisions resolve inconsistencies, clarify language and add further compliance flexibility.

Indian state bans sale and use of plastic bags . . . The western Indian state of Maharashtra banned the manufacture, sale and use of all plastic bags effective September 24, asserting that the bags blocked sewage and drainage systems during the monsoon rains in July that killed more than 1,000 people in the state. Representatives of the industry in India blamed the government for "passing the buck," saying that inadequate waste management systems and people's littering habits were the problem. The industry noted that if the ban were imposed, over 1,000 manufacturing plants would be forced to shut down in the state, putting 100,000 people out of work. Environmentalists with Bombay Environmental Action Group said it was "stupid" for the government to claim the flooding was caused only by plastic bags, but nevertheless welcomed the ban. SPI's Film and Bag Federation is closely monitoring these developments.

ECONOMY & MANUFACTURING

Rep. Goode tours plant . . . Economic challenges to American plastics manufacturers -- including the high price of natural gas -- were among the topics discussed during a visit this week by Rep. Virgil Goode, Jr. (R-VA) to the Wexco Corporation manufacturing plant in Lynchburg, VA. Goode toured the facility, which manufactures injection and extrusion machinery, and talked with Wexco president Peter Jones about issues pressing the industry, including steel prices, healthcare costs and the impact of high natural gas prices. Jones pressed Goode to support legislation that would open portions of the Outer Continental Shelf to natural gas drilling in order to alleviate spiraling energy prices in the short term. The visit was the latest coordinated by SPI as part of its aggressive outreach program to raise the visibility of the plastics industry among lawmakers. "Our members are critical to educating government officials about issues affecting their business, and the plastics industry in general," said Jeff Trask, SPI's vice president of government affairs and public policy. "Inviting public officials to tour the facilities is a great way to fill this vital role." SPI plans to arrange further plant tours throughout the remainder of the year. For a complete list of plant tours that have occurred to date, or to arrange a Congressional visit in your area, please contact Natha Freiburg at (202) 974-5216; e-mail nfreibur@socplas.org.

NAM study sees "looming skills shortage" . . . A Labor Day report by the National Association of Manufacturers forecasts a 21st century "skills shortage" in spite of a robust economy and continuing pickup in the manufacturing sector. "As technology and competition continue to shrink our world, developing nations are accounting for an ever-increasing share of global trade and economic growth. If the U.S. is to preserve its position as a major economic power in the 21st century, it must stay out in front of the innovation curve, and it will need a much better-prepared workforce to do so," said John Engler, NAM's president. SPI supports NAM's call for the gap to be made up through improved secondary math and science education, immigration policies that attract foreign math and science talent, and increased federal funding for basic research in engineering, math computer and physical sciences. The full report can be accessed at http://www.nam.org/s_nam/bin.asp?CID=201825&DID=235064&DOC=FILE.PDF.

EVENTS

SPI Board meeting to convene in Washington . . . The SPI Executive Board, Industry Segment Councils, Strategic Management Groups and other governance committees will meet in Washington September 14-16 for the 2005 Fall National Board Meeting. During the three days of sessions, the groups will discuss key issues facing the plastics industry, take a look at SPI's activities over the past ten months that have addressed those issues and begin to plan a course of action to focus on the concerns of SPI members in the coming year. Also planned is an issues briefing to be held at the U.S. Capitol, followed by legislative visits with select Members of Congress. Presentations are scheduled during the week from Ambassador Rob Portman, U.S. Trade Representative, Sara Taylor, Director of Political Affairs for the White House, and several elected officials, including House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO). For more information, contact Marcia Horn, (202) 974-5224; e-mail mhorn@socplas.org.

International conference on biobased plastics . . . SPI will host the "International Degradable Plastics Symposium: Status of Biobased and Synthetic Polymer Technology," on June 14-17, 2006 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Chicago, IL. The conference will highlight state-of-the-art technology on degradable and biobased materials, future developments and market opportunities, and the challenges posed to these technologies by global standards and regulatory bodies. Session topics will include discussion of biobased nanocomposites, biodegradable polyesters, cellulose polymers and composites, starch-based materials, vegetable oil polymers and composites, natural fiber technology, and the new and emerging markets for these materials. Other sessions will deal with environmental fate, ecotoxicity testing, composting, lifecycle and environmental footprint analysis. For more information, contact Nancy Jones, (202) 974-5267; njones@socplas.org.

IN MEMORY

Former SPI Director Dies . . . SPI mourns the death August 31 of C.A. "Buzz" Lippincott, who served for many years as Director of Statistics for the association. During his career, Lippincott, 72, was active in the plastics industry, heading up marketing for such companies as Atlantic Richfield, ARCO Chemical and Oxirane Corp. He was elected president of the Chemical Management and Resources Association in 1980 and received its highest honor of life member. Lippincott held a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Colorado and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Reba Jordan Lippincott, two sons and two grandsons.

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