Document 6RbXe1xNrgmmkOX0929OqX63R

FILE NAME: Asarco (ASAR) DATE: 1981 Oct 12 DOC#: ASAR006 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Letter from Peters & Peters to Garland STPM Press RE Reference to Asarco in a Publication G E O R G E A. P E T E R S BARBARA J. PETERS Peters 8c Peters ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW 1 46 0 FOURTH STREET. SU ITE 3 0 2 S A N T A M O N IC A. C A L IF O R N IA 9 0 4 0 1 (213) 395-7117 12 October 1981 William G. Salo Senior Editor Garland STPM Press Garland Publishing 136 Madison Avenue New York, New York Inc. 10016 Dear Bill, Thank you for sending a copy of the letter dated 29 September 1981, authored by Marc Edell, entitled "Source Book on Asbestos Diseases". We are always happy to receive any letter or commentary that might help us to improve, revise, or modify the content of our book. The letter that you sent us indicates that ASARCO has taken exception to the manner in which they are listed on page A-10 as an asbestos mining concern and on pages A-ll and A-13 as an asbestos product manufacturer or processor. We listed both ASARCO at 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10005 and Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd. (as a subsidiary of ASARCO, with U.S. Offices at 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10005). One of the reasons for listing both ASARCO and Lake Asbestos of Quebec on that page was the advertisements of ASARCO in the Thomas Register (for example, the 1976 edition, on page 235 of Volume 1, which indicates that Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd., is a subsidiary of ASARCO Incorporated and may be contacted at 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10005). This is the same address shown in Standard & Poors Register (1973, Volume 1) as being the corporate headquarters of ASARCO Inc. The same ASARCO listing in Standard & Poors under "products" lists "asbestos". Similarly, the 1979 Directory of Corporate Affiliations, under ASARCO Incorporated lists its type of business as "mining". Thus, ASARCO and Lake Asbestos had the same business address and ASARCO is listed as a mining concern and as producing asbestos as a product. William G. Salo -2- 1 October 1981 The 1973 Thomas Register lists Lake Asbestos under "asbestos and asbestos materials", "asbestos fibres", "asbestos filtering materials", "asbestos producers", and "asbestos shorts". The same listings are included unchanged in the 1976 edition, but the display advertisement changed to "square pack asbestos" and elimi nated the representation "Lake Asbestos Fibres are a proven high quality reinforcing agent for many types of products". The differentiation as to what is a product is capable of many interpretations; for example, some believe that a processed raw material is a product, particularly after it has been purified, segregated into different sizes, identified by type, specially packaged, and sold as having unique characteristics. So it could be argued that Lake Asbestos was selling asbestos as a product. Even Standard & Poors lists asbestos under the "product" category for ASARCO Inc. and the Thomas Register suggests the same for Lake Asbestos. Thus, just from a quick look at these two standard business references, our listing appears to be correct and accurate. Perhaps, the ASARCO listing could have been made more complete by adding that Lake Asbestos is a "subsidiary". However, a recent issue of The Wall Street Journal, 8 October 1981, on page 17, lists Lake Asbestos as a "unit" of "ASARCO Inc., New York", so we are uncertain whether it is still a subsidiary or has been changed to another category. In addition, the Wall Street Journal article suggests that Asarco, via Lake Asbestos, is involved in a joint venture with United Asbestos Inc., which might be included in any updating of our book. Perhaps, in the interests of fairness, accuracy, and to correct possible misinterpretations, Mr. Edell could be asked to supply the exact identity and descriptive information that they believe should apply to both ASARCO and Lake Asbestos in any future listings in our book. Sincerely GAP/r GEORGE A. PETERS