Document 5LR6qxLDZ9Go3Q9ayzbNqed58

FILE NAME: US Gypsum (USG) DATE: August 18, 1971 DOC#: USG116 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: 1971 Memo to CP Kipp from RP Entz regarding joint compounds asbestos fiber TO: FROM: SUBJECT: JOINT CCHPQUTOS. ASB3ST0S FIBER. August 18, 1971 In jo u r le t t e r o f Ju ly 30th. to me you sta te th a t we s ig h t wish to consider marketing the concept o f u sin g Ready Mixed Jo in t Compound, which would elim inate the problea of airborne fib ers during mixing in the f ie ld . lou also recommend that we consider sponging the Jo in ts in lie u of sanding, which would elim inate airborne a sb e sto s fib e r during the finishing operation. We believe that there i s v a lid it y to your recommendation and i t could be used i f any p a r tic u la r lo c a lit y , Government Regulatory 3ody or a Union, were to attempt to elim inate the use of jo in t compound because o f p o ssib le hazardous substances ( i.e ., asbestos fib e r). I t i s our considered opinion th at i t would be unwise fo r us to place any la b e l on cur p resen t compounds which could be construed as implying that a hazardous substance e x is t s . No oth er manufacturer has taken such a step and we believe we would be placed a t a competitive disadvantage. More se rio u sly ; however, we could p re c ip ita te a ctio n prematurely which could r e su lt in some in d iv id u al, such a s a Senator or a Ralph Nader, drawing atten tio n to our produ cts. Research oresen tly hnq one *"~i working f u l l time in an attem pt to develop jo in t compound form ulations which would be asbestos free and yet provide us with the properties th a t are necessary to s e l l our products at the market p rice . To the b est of our knowledge, no manufacturer has an acceptable product in the OS. B ritish Gypsum by law produces compounds which, are asbestos fr e e , cut the products they produce are u n saleable in th is country or in Canada. Tour recommendation provides us with a quick means of overcaning the .question of airborne fib e r s , i f a find it necessary. when we United,States Gypsum C ompany USG104.2