Document 06G5keGr9oywjVzyJee2Vgrvm

Jw Monsanto tS A M e -- L Q C * T iO N - H O N E Sarah G. Collins - BIND - 3860 OATS iiia -e c T atFEBEN CE November 9, 1983 D. R. Bishop - F3EE E. L. Head - B2SB J. F. Hussey - F3EA .W. J. McCarville - G3WG TO :J. T. Nolan - D1A A few months ago, a soil sampling, program was undertaken at the Krummrich Plant to look for .three* cheniicals , dioxin (2,3,, 7 ,'8-TCDD) , PCBs and mercury. Although Krummrich1s program was not associated with any EPA action (i.e., Nitro), MIC .management wanted to determinevif .there was a problem, or a potential for one, relating to contamination/exposures. Since the program began in late July, the top two inches of some 45 soil samples have been analyzed at Monsanto's Dayton facility. Results indicate there is not a problem. Three samples found detectable levels of dioxin. However, only one was above one part per billion and is located in an area that' is being paved over for additional plant parking. Twenty additional soil samples will also be tested within the next several weeks. However, there is no reason to- think that these samples will find levels significantly different than those already analyzed. Before the sampling began, WGK management met with the plant.'s union committee to discuss the program. The union members were told that management would be back ,to them when the data was available. A meeting to go over the results has recently been scheduled for later this week. WGK employees were also informed about the sampling program. To communicate the results, the attached Molloy letter has been prepared and will appear in the plant's newsletter shortly after the union committee receives its presentation. (Probably early the week of November 14, 198.3.) We don't plan to make a public announcement on the sampling results. However, an extensive Q&A has been prepared in case we receive any media calls on the WGK program, its intent or the results. S G C :j d Att. ____ Sarah G. Collins C07877 r Letter for "WGK Today" Final 11/4/83 Revised 11/8/83 Throughout our plant's long operational history, count less chemicals have been used or manufactured in our processes. Given the coverage of the news media on chemical exposures and their possible health effects, we decided to undertake a soil sampling program at the Krummrich.Plant to assure our employees- that no exposure problem, or the'/poteniiaV'for one, exists. , J x * 'i f We designed the sampling-program to look for three chemicals that have received much media attention . . . dioxin (specifically, 2,3,7,8-TCDD), PCBs and mercury. To date, we have analyzed, the top two inches of 45 soil samples with the best technological and analytical capabilities available to u s . Though we plan to take about 20 additional samples, I would like to share with you the results we have so far. ^ Three samples found detectable levels of dioxin. Two of the samples found extremely small amounts of dioxin at less than one part per billion (ppb). The third sample, which was over one ppb, was taken near the plant's fence line where there is a low potential for human exposure. When we extend our employee parking lot in the near future, this area will be paved over with asphalt as part of the project. The rest of the dioxin samples found virtually no trace of the chemical contaminant. C07878 2 The results of the mercury samples indicated no exposure problems. The PCB samples showed no concentrations of any significance except for one sample taken from the old Aroclor dock. Appropriate action will be taken to eliminate any exposure potential. * We can all be proud of Krummrich1s ,medicalV:environmental and industrial hygiene records. The current:''soil sampling program, is t+ ' designed to ensure that our workplace continues to be a safe one.. Jack W. Molloy ) CONFIDENTS '-J C07879