Galifornia Toughens Wood Resin Rules

The California Air Resource Board has approved stringent restrictions that will require manufacturers to reduce formaldehyde emissions by nearly 60Vo in all wood products manufactured, sold or used in the state.

"There is no safe threshold for this carcinogen, and we know how to eliminate it," said Harry Demorest, president and c.e.o. of Columbia Forest Products, an Oregon-based manufacturer that began making ply- wood without formaldehyde in 20O2.

Scheduled for phase-in between 20 l0 and 20 I I , the new rules are even stricter than those in Europe and Asia. "California will have the most stringent standard in the world for wood resin products," said Catherine Witherspoon, executive director of the state air board.

Under the new rules, manufacturers would have to obtain third-party certification, maintain compliance records, and provide labels indicating compliance with the law. The regulation also would close California markets to low-cost, chemically laden wood imported from Canada, China and other parts of Asia. Wood importers, however, questioned how compliance from manufacturers in other countries would be ensured.

Widely used in adhesives for wood veneer, plywood, and other construction materials, the chemical has been shown to cause throat cancer. respiratory ailments, and other problems. Demarest said the new standards are a "tremendous victory" for those who work with wood products.

Valerie Cavazos, who handles sales at California Panel & Veneer Co., Cerritos, Ca., agreed: "Formaldehyde is bad. We don't want it in our homes, and we don't want it in our stores. They did it with all the other chemicals, so why not this?"

Cavazos, who has worked at the company for 2l years, said she had suffered headaches and burning eyes from formaldehyde fumes. "It is not healthy, believe me," she said. Today, California Panel carries mostly formaldehyde-free wood products to satisfy requests from consumers seeking environmentally friendly products.

Some manufacturers fear that the new standards will force them to use more expensive wood glues and lead to longer processing times. "All this leads to additional costs," said Wade Gregory, president of SierraPine Ltd., based in Roseville and one of two particleboard manufacturers in California. "These costs would have to be passed on to our customers or we simply go out of business."

Columbia Forest Products' Demorest countered: "We think the industry will be able to comply with no additional costs. We sell our product for the exact same cost" as veneer containing formaldehyde.

Weyerhaeuser Refocuses Log Yard

Weyerhaeuser's log sorting yard in Aberdeen, Wa., has switched from serving the domestic market to exclusively supporting the overseas market. "The action is being taken to align our operations with existing market conditions," said spokesperson Kristen Sawin.

The company's large log sawmill in Aberdeen was shut down a year ago and a new sorting yard is being constructed in Olympia. Yet Sawin said the changes in Aberdeen were necessitated by "market conditions" and the slow housing market.

Log trucks will now be taking their loads directly to Weyerhaeuser's mills. "We will not be diminishing the harvest levels," said Sawin. "We're just changing the flow and reducing an extra step in the handling process."

Arlington Hardware Upgrades

Arlington Hardware, Arlington, Wa., is adding more parking and building a new,larger store.

"With Olympic Avenue being revitalized and access to the city's parking lot in doubt, we decided it is a good time to move ahead with our plans," said Taylor Jones, who owns the store with father Mike and brother Carson.

The three decided that the best plan was to build a new lumber shed at the front of the property. Then the old shed, built in 1939, could be dismantled to make way for a larger parking lot. The last phase will be construction of a new store building.

"We are excited about the changes and what they will mean for our friends and customers," said Taylor. "We are sure folks will appreciate the new parking lot."

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OPEN HOUSE: Boise Buildino Materials Distribution, Riverside, Ca., held its annual open house April 25. (1) Ron Hillman, Lori Brandon. (2) Terry Kennelley, Danny Caccavale. (3) Dan Croker, Bob Marks, Jerry Pagmire, John Mazonet. (4) Rene Vargas, Jerri Miller, Bill Reavely, Heath Stai, Les Haugen. (5) Mike Reen, Kathy Rutledge, Tom Yunker. (6) Lloyd Bobo, Dave Patch. This year's theme was the Boise Cascade "Biverside 500." Vendors included James Hardie, Hoover Treated Wood, LouisianaPacific, Homasote, W.R. Grace, Simoson Strong-Tie, Boise EWP, American Gypsum, Miratec Trimboards, CertainTeed gypsum, Cascade, Arauco Wood Products, Azrx, Tnuxo Evergrain decking, and Fastenmaster. (More photos on next page)

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