Practice Makes lmperfect Case Vs. Treated Wood

The American Wood-Preservers' Institute is working to correct public misconceptions about CCA treated wood after ABC-TV's courtroom drama The Practice aired a two-part episode inaccurately portraying the product.

The Oct. 8 and Oct. 15 episodes addressed CCA as chromated copper arsenic (rather than arsenate), repeatedly referred to the wood as "toxic," and blamed it for illnesses contracted by three children who played on or near a treated wood playset-which was fenced off like a hazardous waste site. Since the chemical makers and treaters were out of business, the fictional attorneys successfully sued the EPA, claiming the agency's silence helped cover up the dangers of CCA.

AWPI stated that The Practice aired an irresponsible storyline that could cause undue panic to millions of families. "Playsets made of preserved wood are a common fixture in American schools, playgrounds and backyards," said AWPI, "and there is no evidence that the chemicals in the wood have ever harmed a single child playing on it."

EPA, Consumer Product Safety

Northwest Window Firm Sold

Alpine Industries, Bothell, Wa., has been acquired by Associated Materials Inc., Dallas, Tx., for $7.5 million in cash and debt.

In July, Alpine and its parent Reliant Building Products Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, which reportedly impaired sales and profits.

The transaction, which includes Alpine's vinyl window manufacturing facility, was approved by the bankruptcy court.

Commission and Consumer Reports magazine all have investigated CCA treated wood and deemed it to be safe to use. Months before the telecast, AWPI supplied the show's researchers with vast information on treated wood's safety.

Southern Forest Products Association also is developing a response.

Associated Materials will merge Alpine with its three Alside division vinyl window plants under the supervision of Michael Caporale, Alside's president and chief operating officer.

The company expects to retain most of Alpine's 200 employees and management team led by Kevin Kaestner.

Los Alamitos, CA 562-594-8948

Redding, CA 530-223-7440

Eugene, OR 541-485-7578

Granbury TX 888-323-71 03

Simpson Building Huge Mill

Simpson Timber Co. is constructing a new sawmill in Tacoma, Wa., its first in over a quarter-of-a century.

The reported $50 million to $70 million facility should become operational in February, according to Bev Holland Tanis, public affairs manager, who said the adjacent Commencement Bay Mill will be demolished once the new mill is completely up and running.

"All operations will move over May 1," she said. "Current labor projections are that the mill will employ 175 people at capacity."

The firm has invested heavily in additional timberland and sawmill upgrades, including spending $15 million earlier this year remodeling and installing new machinery in its Shelton, Wa., facility.

The upgrades to the Shelton operations and the new Tacoma plant will increase lumber production "fairly dramatically," according to Ray Tennison, president of Simpson Investment.

The company will have six dimension lumber mills in Tacoma, Shelton and California once the Commencement Bay Mill location is demolished.

To get the most out of each of each log, all of which will reportedly be bought on the open market, the new Tacoma mill will use curve-saw technology, which can make straight pieces oflumber out ofcurved logs.

"In any commodity, if you're going to prosper, you do it by being extremely efficient and extremely low cost," said Tennison. "As long as the demand for the product is there, you either decide to play, or you get out."

The project is a result of Simpson's 1995 decision to abandon

(Please turn to page 35)