Document 2Rek3DxbXajKaDGM6Bk8xKQaN

FILE NAME Kelly Moore KM DATE 1976 May 11 DOC KM029 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Letter from Union Carbide to Paco Textures Co. RE Current OSHA Asbestos Standard UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION 100 OCEANGAT^ LONG BEACH CALIFORNIA 90802 May 11 1976 Mr. Doug Merrill Technical Director Pacs Textures Company 909 Old County Road San Carlos California 94070 Dear Mr. Merrill We have had numerous requests for information on the current status of the Federal OSHA asbestos regulations particularly as they effect the continuuesde of asbestos in tape joint compounds Since you are a manufacturer of tape joint compounds it may be of interest to you The Asbestos Standard promulgated on June 7 1972 states b Permissible exposure to airborne concentrations of 1972 asbestos fibers - 1 Standard effective July The hour weighted average airborne concentrations of asbestos fibers to which any employee may be exposed shall not exceed five fibers longer than 5 micrometers of per cubic centimeter air as determined by the method prescribed in paragraph e of this section Emphasis added 2 Standard effective July 1 1976. The hour time- of weighted average airborne concentrations asbestos fibers to which any employee may be exposed shall not exceed two fibers longer than 5 micromept erecr ubs ic centimeteorf air as determined the method perscribed in paragraph e of this section Emphasis added The reduction in the allowable hour weighted average exposure from 5 fibers to 2 fibers that takes place on July 1 1976 is the only changien the asbestos regulations that has been promulgated It is obviously not a prohibition on the use of asbestos in tape joint compounds On October 1975 OSHA proposed a new asbestos rulemaking that has received considerable publicity The construction industry where joint compounds are used is specifically excluded from the new proposal and will be considered later Until such time as an asbestos standard for the construction 2 industriys promulgated the existing June 7 1972 standard with the 5 fiber and fiber July 1976 allowable limits noted above will continue to apply PLAINTIFF'S ' - EXHIBIT KM 01094 It is posed joint important to point out that even the considerably more restrictive pro- rulemaking has no suggestion whatsoever that the use of asbestos in tape compounds will be prohibited by OSHA | If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to call Very truly yours TPN T. P. Norris KMX 01976