Document 4vOGwdMkYyea4D6O31MO9B1mp

MJBB-0aa66fl2 Fran Westinghouse Building 1558 m 272-3891 dm November 9, 1984 Subject Asbestos io : Westinghouse Building 2325 E. V. Clarke, Jr. This is in reply to your inquiry concerning asbestos in Westinghouse , products and facilities. PRODUCTS We recently ran for USEPA a survey of the use of asbestos mixtures in Westinghouse products. The data, shown on the attachment, are averages for 1979-81. Five plants showed significant use -- Bedford, East Pittsburgh, Greenville, Sykesville and Raleigh. Raleigh ceased using asbestos in 1981. Sykesville has reduced its usage to 10-50 per cent of 1979-81 levels, depending on product line. East Pittsburgh no longer uses asbestos. The fraction of asbestos in a mixture generally runs from 20 to 40 per cent. In most applications, the material is contained in another product and is not readily accessible. In the case of Bedford, Charlotte, Greenville and Lester, the material is processed further by others and care must be exercised by the processor. BUILDINGS Asbestos is used as an insulating material in many Westinghouse buildings. Althouth there are no laws or regulations which prohibit such use, there are regulations which govern disposal of the material. All of our facilities have repeatedly been informed that care must be taken during repairs, renovations and demolitions to ensure that contractors are informed about the possible presence of asbestos, that workers .are fully protected and that the material is properly disposed of. Both Corporate Industrial Hygiene and Environmental Control provide consulting services in these areas. Oisca- C Da:e A*s part of our reviews of acquired or divested facilities, we review the condition of asbestos insulation. For example, we required the removal of certain deteriorating asbestos at Newark. In the case of the Westinghouse Building acquisition, we investigated the asbestos situation and provided Real Estate with options and cost estimates for dealing with asbestos in the event of major renovations that might impact significantly on the insulation or in the event that regulations might ultimately be adopted requiring removal or encapsulation. 03114581 HUB~0flM603 EMPLOYE HEALTH -2- Material Safety Data Sheets, which describe precautions to be taken with asbestos, are available at all Westinghouse facilities. Plants using asbestos mixtures have been monitored. In the few cases where air monitoring indicated an asbestos level above the permissible level. Corporate Industrial Hygiene worked with the plant to reduce the levels. Industrial Hygiene has monitored major renovations in the Westinghouse Building, including the present one on the twenty-third floor. All readings were well within OSHA limits in the immediate construction area. Readings outside the construction area were approximately two orders of magnitude below the OSHA limit. FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS . As I have stated, there are no present regulations that require us to remove or encapsulate asbestos in our facilities. There has been talk, however, that public buildings (not yet defined) may eventually be regulated in the same manner as schools. It is likely that regulations will be issued which will lower the permissible limits for air concentrations. A proposed rule to this effect was withdrawn but with the intention of incorporating it into a broader revision of the regulations. We are following these developments regularly and keep our facilities informed of proposed and actual changes. (luX' FSB/mj Frank S. Beal, Director Environmental Affairs Attachment 031145S2 m xw 9099000-fl8HM SUMMARY OP PRODUCT USB 1979-1981 03114583 Location Of) Product or Use Bedford) PA High grade electrical paper for Motor insulation Buffalo, MY Asbestos rope for electrical DlOlS* Charlotte, NC Sheet gasketing Coral Springs, PL Asbestos paper in protective relays East Pittsburgh, PA *tilllboard for switch board Greenville, PA High grade electrical paper for wire insulation Boraeheada, MY Asbestos cloth for nuclear penetration Jefferson City, MO Epoxy resin containing , asbestos for transformers Orrville, OH Asbestos gasket sheet for oxygen sensor Philadelphia (Lester), PA Asbestos sheets for ring gasket Kaleigh, NC* Granular filler for electrical conductor supports Average Annual End Product (1979-81) 137,333 lbs. paper Average Annual Cpnsunption of Asbestos Mixtures (1979-81) 83, 224 lbs. 92 Motors 15 lbs. 14.5 sq. yards gasketing 1,000 relays 14.5 square yards 73.3 square yards 300 switchboards 2,200 tons of wire 2,418 tons 13.7 tons 1 unit 0.2 square yards 2,463 transformers 23.7 gallons 330 units (1981 only) 10.9 square yards (1981 only) 625 ring gaskets 540 squAre yards 50,000 units 12,450 lbs. ) 03114584 t -"-U M f) 'li'j'Jo S099000-99MI Page 2 Location (W) product or Use Sykesville, HD ***** Adhesive paste for ultrasonic cleaning equiparent Sheet Insulation for induction heating equipment Electric cable for induction heating equipment Electric cable for welding power supply and Induction heating equipment Sunnyvale* CA Garlock 7228 gaskets for propulsion gaskets Average Annual End Product (1979-Blt 732 units 256 units 64 unite 4,024 units not listed Average Annual Consumption of Aabestoa Mixtures (1979-81) 33 gallons 5,949 square feet 3,300 feet 3.91 tons 500 square feet * Raleigh discontinued use of asbestos mixtures In 1981. . ** Sykesville has decreased use of asbestos mixtures by 10-50 per cent, depending on product, since 1981. *** East Pittsburgh no longer uses asbestos mixtures. 1 >