Document 34NDjQRLpq0D7a7a1DdxEDdn

345 EAST 47 STREET NEW YORK, N.Y. 10017 AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERS OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT / Great Lakes Carbon Corp. 299 Park Avenue New York, New York 10171 April 17, 1985 TO: Executive Contacts of CMA Member Companies FROM: John P. Sachs, President, AlChE In response to public and private concern and the demand for greater chemical plant safety, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers has established the AlChE Center for Chemical Plant Safety (CCPS). AlChE feels that the immediate application of the knowledge and talent of chemical engineers and related scienti fic disciplines can develop the information urgently required to provide the basis for needed regulation, improved industrial practices, and other measures directed at minimizing public risk resulting from accidents that occur in the manufacture and handling of toxic and/or reactive materials. The new Center will: Be operated by AlChE and financially supported by grants from industry, foundations, and the U.S. Government. An advisory board of prominent individuals from the various public and private sector constituencies will be established to guide the Center's activities. Employ the expertise of chemical engineers as well as professionals in adjunct or related disciplines to study and evaluate available procedures and to con duct research into new technologies that can be harnessed to effect a greater measure of safety in the processing, storage and handling of toxic or reactive chemical materials. Develop recommendations and/or guidelines for acceptable industry practices in the production, storage, and handling of toxic or reactive chemical materials, which will be made available to any public, private, or government entity in need of such information. U c. DIRECTORS D 8 NELSON "JO SEADER L O STINE A A WINKLER * W W GRIMES * M J MARKETTE J F MATHIS * WD SEIDER EJ BASSLEfi * PS CMAPPELEAfi R LEE D S MAISEL BOR 0 0 7 6 6 2 Page 2 BACKGROUND The establishment of the Center for Chemical Plant Safety reflects an urgent concern in the United States and abroad for more information about and greater safety within chemical industry plants, a concern brought into focus by the December 3, 1984 accident in Bhopal, India. AlChE's specific involvement began in late December 1984 stemming from discussions held among the members of AlChE's Government Programs Steering Committ e and Executive Committee. To obtain input from the industrial sector a meeting was held at AlChE headquarters on February 26, 1985, attended by thirteen representatives from leading chemical and petroleum companies, AlChE officers, and Arnold Class of AlChE's Safety and Health Division. (List of attendees attached). This group sought to more clearly define AlChE's role and to further identify the Center's activities. An AlChE Task Force on Chemical Plant Safety was formed at this meeting. The Task Force, chaired by AlChE Vice President Hal Kemp, includes eight safety experts who are senior managers concerned with health and safety issues at seven of the thirteen companies represented at the February 26th meeting. The Task Force met on March 13th and concluded that the following four items were the issues which AlChE could best address: 1. Hazard evaluation procedures. 2. Bulk storage and handling of toxic or reactive materials. 3. Plant operating procedures. 4. Safety training. The Task Force further concluded that AlChE must be cognizant of actions taken by other organizations such as CMA, and AlChE activities should complement and not conflict with their efforts. AlChE should stress how to, not what to, and we should assume a proactive position, not a reactive one. The issue of timeliness was stressed and it was concluded, if we are to have any real impact, we must act quickly and decisively. The Task Force decided to give priority attention t Item 1 , Hazard Evaluation Procedures, and established a target date of Septemb r 1 for the issuance of a first set of guidelines on acceptable industry practices in dealing with hazard evaluation procedures. I have discussed our current plans in considerable detail with Ed Holmer, CMA's current Chairman, who was also an attendee at the February 26 meeting. It is his view and that of other CMA board memebers who are aware of our plans, that our proposed activities will complement CMA initiatives and in no way conflict with them. BOR 007663 Page 3 We are initiating efforts to obtain support for this concept from key government groups and environmental groups in addition to reaching out to a much broader group of companies in the industry. We would expect to get some representation on the Task Force from the non-industry constituencies. Issues of structure, funding and permanent staff needs for the Center will be addressed by the Task Force in the immediate future. As soon as we can develop definitive proposals, we will let you know and seek your financial support. We expect to publicly announce the Center's formation at a press meeting in Washington on or about April 23, 1985. I am hopeful you will support our efforts and let me know if you have any specific comments or suggestions. Sincerely John P. Sachs JPS/ac Bor 007664 ATTENDEES AT CCPS MEETING - FEBRUARY 26, 1985 E. W. Callahan, V.P. Health, Safety & Environ. Sciences Allied Corp. Richard F. Schwab, Mgr. Process Safety Loss Prevention Allied Corp. Matt Taylor, Pres. Chemical Products Division American Cyanamid Company Paul Hime, V.P. Operations Celanese Chemical Co., Inc. R. Smith, Dir. Corporate Safety Service Dow Chemical Corp. J. H. Todd Dir., Environmental Affairs Employee Relations E. I. DuPont DeNemours Co. E. C. Holmer Chairman Exxon Chemical Co. Thomas H. Lafferre, V.P. Engrg. Safety Property Monsanto Co. William Oppold, President Olin Corp. Arnold Glass, Chairman AlChE Safety Health Div. J. C. Forman, Exec. Dir. Secy. AlChE Chester Knowles, Dir. Environ. Health Safety Olin Corp. R. G. Askew, Sr. V.P. Chemical Group Phillips Petroleum Co. Stanley J. Schechter Dir., Safety Loss Prevention Rohm Haas Raymond C. Foster Chairman C.E.O. Stone Webster Corp. O, Wayne Rigdoen Asst. Mgr. Safety Ind. Hygiene Texaco Inc. Warren B. Anderson Chairman C.E.O. Union Carbide Corp. Robert Pyle, Exec. V.P. Union Carbide Corp. John P. Sachs, AlChE Pres. Pres., Great Lakes Carbon Co. John H. Sanders, P.Pres. AlChE V.P. Asst. Gen. Mgr. Eastman Chemical Div. Eastman Kodak Co. H. S. Kemp, Vice President AlChE BOR 007665 MEMBERS OF CCPS TASK FORCE Cary A. Page Manager, Loss Prevention American Cyanamid Co. Robert A. Smith Director, Corporate Safety Svcs Dow Chemical Co. Thomas H. Lafferre, V.P. Corporate Engineering Dept. Monsanto Co. Stanley J. Schechter Pollution and Hazard Control Manager Rohm and Haas Co., Engineering Division E. J. Bassler Manager, Process Engrg. Div. Stone Webster Engrg. Corp. William E. Chambers Corporate Director, Environmental Affairs Union Carbide Corp. Arnold Glass Chairman, AlChE Safety Health Div. Monsanto Co. J. Charles Forman Executive Director Secretary AlChE H. S. Kemp, Chairman, CCPS E.l.DuPont (Retired) AlChE President-elect BOR 007666