Initiative Planned Against Fluorocarbons

After two separate bills were stalled until next year, Assemblyman Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica) said Tuesday he will sponsor a voter initiative for 1990 that would stringently regulate atmosphere-damaging chemicals in air conditioners.

Hayden’s bill, which would have prohibited the sale of chlorofluorocarbons in small cans and require it to be recycled under strict guidelines, was held over by the Senate Natural Resources Committee.

“(The committee) has got to be crazy to do this,” Hayden said. “This is guaranteed to become an initiative. But their action didn’t surprise me at all.”

He said polls he had commissioned indicate that as many as 75% of California voters would support an initiative that would more closely regulate use of chlorofluorocarbons--even if it affected use of air conditioners.

Chlorofluorocarbons have been targeted by scientists as a major villain in the increasing depletion of the Earth’s protective ozone layer. Ozone filters out harmful ultraviolet sunlight that can cause skin cancer.

Meanwhile, an even broader bill carried by Assemblyman John Vasconcellos that would ban the sale of automobiles with air-conditioning units using the chemical after 1992, was held over in the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee.

But Vasconcellos (D-Santa Clara) urged the environmental safety committee to hold a forum on banning use of the chemical.

“Let’s call for a summit meeting . . . with all the appropriate leaders and parties. Let’s make it clear that this is a serious issue,” said Vasconcellos.

Vasconcellos received verbal support for his bill--but the Assembly members said they wanted to study the issue further. With the lawmakers adjourning on Sept. 15, that means the issue is dead at least until next year.