S-3857.2  _______________________________________________

                    SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8024

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1996 Regular Session

By Senators Morton, Swecker, Hochstatter, Johnson, Roach and Deccio

Read first time 01/12/96.  Referred to Committee on Ecology & Parks.

Requesting the United States Congress and the Environmental Protection Agency to repeal the prohibition on chlorofluorocarbons.

    TO THE HONORABLE WILLIAM J. CLINTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND TO CAROL M. BROWNER, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY:

    We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

    WHEREAS, Current federal restrictions on the use of chlorofluorocarbons, such as those found in the air conditioning process, are based on unreliable and unsubstantiated studies; and

    WHEREAS, By its very nature, research on the effects of chlorofluorocarbons fails to assess entirely the long-term impacts that the use of this class of compounds may have on the environment and particularly on the ozone.  Observation of an alleged "hole" in the earth's ozone layer is a recent and unproven phenomenon, and short-term research cannot possibly predict with any degree of accuracy a potential threat that chlorofluorocarbons might pose to the environment.  Indeed, studies on alleged ozone depletion do not indicate lasting repercussions resulting from the use of chlorofluorocarbons, nor that this occurrence is even a consequence of human activity; and

    WHEREAS, Observations made by the scientific community regarding depletion of the ozone layer have failed to assign responsibility of this occurrence to any particular chemical, class of chemicals, or chemical process.  Furthermore, these studies have not conclusively shown there to be a continued threat to the ozone layer into the future, nor have they recommended a revision in public policy or social life-style regarding the use of chlorofluorocarbons; and

    WHEREAS, Chlorofluorocarbons in the earth's atmosphere are minuscule when compared to the vastness of the ozone layer, and it is presumptuous to assume that they can substantially affect it.  Any trivial benefits to be gained from prohibiting the use of chlorofluorocarbons do not warrant the economic and social costs resulting from such drastic and unnecessary measures;

    NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the members of the United States Congress and the officials of the Environmental Protection Agency immediately initiate efforts to repeal the federal ban on the use of chlorofluorocarbons.

    BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable William J. Clinton, President of the United States, Carol M. Browner, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.

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