Hoffman, who was a top lawyer at the Department of Toxic Substances Control in the 1990s, is part of a team of attorneys, lobbyists and political strategists mounting a campaign in both the regulatory arena and the Legislature to forestall the proposed change in disposal regulations.
The industry is backing a bill by Sen. Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana), whose district is home to SA Recycling, that would prohibit the toxics department from tightening controls on fluff until after the California Environmental Protection Agency delivers a report on the issue to lawmakers in December 2010.
Correa, who received $3,600 in campaign contributions from SA Recycling in 2007 and 2008, said his bill would ensure that any proposed rule changes would be studied jointly by all California agencies that deal with air and water pollution before any changes are made in how fluff is handled.
That coordination already is taking place, said BreAnda Northcutt, a spokeswoman for Cal/EPA, which oversees Toxic Substances Control as well as the boards that deal with air and water quality.
Toxic Substances Control "has been collaborating with Cal/EPA departments," Northcutt said. "They've also worked with local agencies and landfills to help them better understand the changes."
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marc.lifsher@latimes.com
