I DOMESTIC POLICY COUNCIL WITH THE PRESIDENT STRATOSPHERIC OZONE June 18 1987 o CEA like many others was initially skeptical of the wisdom of regulation to protect the stratospheric ozone layer Too often in the past environmentalists have been like the boy who cried •wolf' CEA has always opposed burdening our economy with unnecessary and costly regulations environmental or otherwise CEA has reached its position in support of a strong international protocol only after careful examination of the best data currently available o What is the basis of CEA's position As explained by Lee Thomas the health and environmental risks of inaction and indecision are substantial The health dangers include a large number of avoidable deaths from skin cancer Many of the long-term and potentially irreversible ill effects of ozone depletion will fall on future generations we have a responsibility to those who will come after us to make an economically sound decision---neither to subject them to needless risks nor to weaken the economic system they will inherit from us -2- The adverse health effects translate into very large economic damages if significant ozone depletion occurs On the other hand the costs to our economy of responsible control measures are relatively small Our cost benefit analysis shows that a protocol consistent with what has been negotiated so far is M 1 clea fi e 3 1 Adl J int rnational o agreement is essential and we are very An close to one The scope of the problem is world-wide The U S cannot protect the ozone layer by itself Unilateral controls forced on us by Congress or the courts would only disadvantage U S consumers and make U S industry less competitive Other countries that produce the ozone-depleting chemicals would get a free ride The u s has been the leader in the negotiations so far and a successful effective protocol would be a major diplomatic and domestic success