Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. letter to G. F., May 20, 1996

Congress of tfje ®niteb States J?oust ot fifpreSmtattbee ©Hasljmgton, ©£ 20515-2002 May 20, 1996 Dear Thank you for expressing to me your support of H. R. 2367. As you are aware, H. R. 2367-sponsored by Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA)-would once again allow the manufacture of Class I chiorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons. Production of these substances was banned earlier this year in compliance with the Clean Air Act of 1990. There has been a great deal of controversy over the extent to which fully-halogenated substances like CFC-1 1 and CFC-1 2 contribute to ozone depletion. Some have argued that volcanic eruptions and other natural phenomena poses the biggest threat to ozone depletion. Other scientists point to the presence of chlorine, the substance present in CFCs that allegedly damages the ozone layer, in the earth’s atmosphere as proof positive that CFCs are indeed responsible. In my view, whether or not CFCs destroy the ozone layer is a question which science has not yet fully answered. Class I chiorofluorocarbons are alleged to have the highest ozone depletion factor of any substance impacted by the 1990 Clean Air Act. Accordingly, we must insure that these substances are indeed ozone neutral before we repeal the ban outright. At the same time, I believe the federal government has an affirmative obligation to ease the tremendous regulatory burden which the 1990 Clean Air Act places on our nation’s businesses. H. R. 2367 is currently pending in the House Commerce and Ways and Means Committees. I will take your views in mind as this legislation progresses through the legislative process. Sincerely, Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Member of Congress