Day 010 - 11 Jul 94 - Page 60


     
     1   Q.   What happened then?
              A.  Well, to the best of my knowledge, nothing.
     2
         Q.   Mr. Langert, have you read his evidence, his testimony?
     3        A.  I went through it, yes.
 
     4   Q.   He tells us, as you will see, that in fact that ordinance
              was withdrawn or shelved after independent research by a
     5        University in New York State showed that contrary to
              public opinion polystyrene foam was a satisfactory form of
     6        packaging.  Do you remember that?
              A.  I do remember that statement.
     7
         Q.   Do you remember that event?
     8        A.  I remember that the -- I remember that the ordinance
              did not come into effect.
     9
         Q.   You told us in passing, I do not know whether it was this
    10        morning or late this afternoon, that pentane, one of the
              objections to pentane as a blowing agent for polystyrene
    11        foam is that it is identified as a greenhouse gas.  Do you
              remember saying that this morning?
    12        A.  Yes.
 
    13   Q.   That is not right, is it?
              A.  Oh, I think that it is a hydrogen.
    14
         Q.   It is a hydrogen.
    15        A.  I think hydrocarbons in general are treated as
              greenhouse gases.
    16
         Q.   No, Mr. Lipsett.  Suppose I suggest to you that pentane
    17        cannot become a greenhouse gas because it is not long
              enough lived in the atmosphere, do you accept that?
    18        A.  I could not make a full statement to that.
 
    19   Q.   Can I try to understand a bit more clearly what your
              precise area of expertise and knowledge is?  You said you
    20        could not tell me about the consequences of the use of
              polystyrene foam in the construction industry.  You cannot
    21        tell me for certain about the length of life of pentane in
              the atmosphere.  Where is your real expertise in all of
    22        this?
              A.  My expertise is in developing research on matters
    23        associated with environmental issues that are raised by
              the members of the organisation I work for.  So that we
    24        would do research on a particular topic based upon calls
              from people and a need to facilitate and reduce the time
    25        necessary to reproduce and pass on information to local
              Grassroot leaders. 
    26 
              So, in the case of polystyrene foam, the idea was to 
    27        identify as much of the research as possible that we could
              identify and then pass it on to local community leaders.
    28        That is my area of expertise.
 
    29   Q.   It is important then if you are hoping to bear upon public
              opinion, upon the processes of democracy, that your
    30        information should be accurate and fair, is it not?
              A.  The essence of information is twofold, in my

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