New Rule Could Eliminate Certain Types Of Lumber

Apr. 26 - KGO (KGO) -- California is living up to its reputation as a pioneer in environmental policy, with a new rule on the kind of lumber that can be used here. Companies that produce manufactured wood, like plywood will have to cut the amount of formaldehyde in their products by half. This move could affect the price of everything from bookcases to new homes.

Walk into any home, and you'll find manufactured wood, like particle board or plywood held together with formaldehyde, an adhesive, health advocates say has been linked to throat cancer and asthma.

That's the reason the California Air Resources Board decided to approve new rules, requiring manufacturers to reduce the amount of the chemical released into the air by more than half.

The new standard would be phased in starting in 2009, and would become the most stringent in the world by the time it's fully implemented in 2012.

For American cabinet makers, manufactures and others in the wood industry, the new tougher standards were force them to use more expensive wood glues, which would lead to longer processing times, and eventually drive up the price for the consumer.

J.D. Saunders, Economy Lumber Company: "We've been here 70 years, and like to keep it going if there is increased cost due to regulation, unfortunately that's one of the deals that gets passed down to our customers. "

Economy lumber company is one of the leading lumber yards in the South Bay. it's customer base relies on contractors, like Barry Swenson Builders.

David Gibbons, Barry Swenson Builder: "My hope that the industry can react and find a settable substitution that's economical."

This year alone, Barry Swenson Builder is currently constructing some 300 to 400 condominiums. Although their current project would be grand-fathered into the old standards, the regulations could have a direct affect on affordable housing.

David Gibbons, Barry Swenson Builder: "We all want to be green. We want to be right for the environment, we want to protect to protect our workers. So obviously it's a problem that has to be solved here, I'm just not sure what the solution here is. I just hope it can be solved in such a way that it doesn't affect the cost of housing to the consumer."

The California Air Regulators Board say the new regulation will close California markets to low cost chemically laden wood imported from Canada, China an other parts of Asia.

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