I think I left out some key information that may make a difference to the answer for my question. The data source(s) in question are not SAS datasets, but rather they are database tables accessed via SAS/ACCESS. The errors are occurring in the translation to the databases language. Here is the log from simple step I ran, similar to the example provided:
27 proc sql;
28 create table NEW_TABLE as
29 select Prop_Typ_ID
30 ,PropType.DESC
31 ,PropType.ORDER
32 from HASP.PROP_TYP as PropType
33 ;
33 ! quit;
ODBC: AUTOCOMMIT is NO for connection 1 5216 1307561914 ducon 0 SQL (2)
2 The SAS System 07:58 Wednesday, June 8, 2011
ODBC: AUTOCOMMIT turned ON for connection id 1 5217 1307561914 setconlo 0 SQL (2)
5218 1307561914 du_prep 0 SQL (2)
ODBC_920: Prepared: 5219 1307561914 du_prep 0 SQL (2)
SELECT * FROM dbo . PROP_TYP 5220 1307561914 du_prep 0 SQL (2)
5221 1307561914 du_prep 0 SQL (2)
5222 1307561914 du_prep 0 SQL (2)
ODBC_921: Prepared: 5223 1307561914 du_prep 0 SQL (2)
SELECT PROP_TYP_ID , DESC , ORDER FROM dbo . PROP_TYP 5224 1307561914 du_prep 0 SQL (2)
5225 1307561914 du_prep 0 SQL (2)
ODBC: ROLLBACK performed on connection 1. 5226 1307561914 du_comm 0 SQL (2)
ERROR: CLI describe error: [DataDirect][ODBC SQL Server Driver][SQL Server]Incorrect syntax near the keyword 'DESC'.
NOTE: PROC SQL set option NOEXEC and will continue to check the syntax of statements.
NOTE: The SAS System stopped processing this step because of errors.
NOTE: PROCEDURE SQL used (Total process time):
real time 0.00 seconds
cpu time 0.03 seconds