Document 6B01y9g4zXB0ydZqeQ3k00JYR

truer Olfica To: From* Subject- Mr. G. F. Bolling V. H. Susssnan Asbestos Regulations Environmental and Safety Engineering April 28, 1980 You asked`me tD comment on the recent statement by Eula Bingham (Wall Street Journal, April 18, 1980) concerning a study group (OSHA/NIOSH) proposal ' for a maximum workplace exposure limit of 100,000 asbestos fibers per cubic meter (0.1 fiber per cc). This value of 0.1 fibers/cc and also 0.5 fibers/cc have been under consideration for some time. Adoption by 05HA of the lower value would make workplace control more difficult, but would still allow asbestos usage. This recent statement does not change our forecast that the prohabl e goal of governmental agencies is to limit the annual amount of asbestos produced and processed in the country---and in addition, certain product categories vn 11 almost certainly be regulated as to asbestos content. Current material in the draft Carcinogen Task Force report of April 24, 1980 and the attached memorandum to Dick Lamb (E&R5) address the asbestos situation. Whether or not OSHA comes out later this year with new standards on asbestos exposure, we believe the Company should search hard for substitute materials such as those listed in the draft report (clutch plates, brakes, etc., on page 4f). The fact that GM may be ahead of us in this regard will certainly encourage governmental agencies to be very active in considering appropriate regulations affecting automotive products. As you know, the banning of non-essential uses of asbestos is also a reconutendation under consideration and may be proposed for 1985 or so. Therefore, this statement by Ms. Bingham should not change our present course of actions based upon expected governmental efforts to control asbestos usage. ' Enclosure 005951 PRODUCED BY FORD