Document 6bgbQdMk8Lw0VkV7nMVdVLGoR

CAMBRIDGE 012GS TO: H.A. Brown DATE: December 17, 1971 FROM: Peter Kostlc CC: T.L. Lyall O.F. Stewart - Enoree R.L. Oliverio - Libby J. Schowalter - Libby R.E. Schneider R.A. Kulberg SUBJECT: Meeting with Representatives of Bureau of Mines, Denver The meeting with Bureau of Mines representatives was held as scheduled at 8:45 A.M., December 13, 1971. Following is a listing of attendees and a brief summary of comments expressed. Bureau of Mines W.R. Grace & Co. T.J. Shepich, Supervisory Mining Engineer John Schowalter Glen Sutton, Chief, Field Health Group Peter Kostic George J. Butler, Nat'l. Inst. OSH, SLC Richard E. Schneider D.K. Walker, Subdistrict Manager, Denver O.F. Stewart A.Z. Dimitroff, District Mgr., Rocky Mtn. District R.L. Oliverio Walker said that the reason the May 15, 1972 abatement order was issued was because their field people had detected a let-down in maintenance, housekeeping, precautions, etc., because the new mill was under construction. Schneider described the research and engineering leading to the design and construction of the new mill, pointing out that employee health and air pollution were of major concern. He described some of the dust control measures designed into the new facilities. Stewart told of the problems, methods, etc., and the many months research leading to the new processes which include minimizing dust generation and almost completely eliminating the dry process. Schowalter described the construction progress and timetable. He showed photographs of the various construction areas, and showed drawings and explained operation of the new screen mill. Oliverio described some of the recent recommendations made by Mine Inspector Petty, and indicated that the majority of the items (more than 90%) have been taken care of. 15162793 H.A. Brown -2- Dec. 17, 1971 Kostic outlined the past history relating to exposures to vermiculite dust. He explained that prior to 1969, there was not TLV for Tremolite fibers and that it was not until that time that federal and state agencies called attention to the problem. Kostic also told of the meeting with representatives with the U.S. Public Health Service at which time we agreed to cooperate with them in a medical and epidemiological study of employee exposures. Sutton discussed the results of BuMines air samplings at Libby and said that the recognized TLV was greatly exceeded. Dimitroff said that they couldn't make a change in the May 15, 1972 abatement date at this time. He indicated that their inspector would visit Libby sometime again in the spring and that if he thought we were doing all we could to maintain the existing dust collecting equipment at maximum efficiency, provide and require the wearing of respirators, the inspector could, at his discretion, extend the May 15 deadline. Dimitroff later told me in private that if we go along with these suggestions, we should anticipate no problems. The question was raised by Sutton as to whether we had any plans for protecting truck drivers and equipment operators from road dust and dust generated in mining operations. We informed them that we are presently engaged in a study of solutions to the problem. Perhaps other members of our group might add additional comments. PK:mh Peter Kostic 1516279A Meeting BOM/W.R. Grace, 12/13/71, 8:45 a.m 01290 T. J. Shepich, Bureau of Mines, Supervisory Mining Engineer John Schowalter, W. R. Grace, Proj. Engr.-New Const., Libby Glen Sutton, Bureau of Mines, Chief, Field Health Group George J. Butler, National Inst, for Occ. Safety & Health, SLC Peter Kostic, W. R. Grace - Safety Adm. Richard E. Schneider, W. R. Grace - Const. Prod. Div., Chief Eng D. K. Walker, Bureau of Mines, Subdistrict Manager, Denver 0. F. Stewart, W. R. Grace - Mgr. Mining Operations R. L. Oliverio, W. R. Grace - Operations Mgr., Libby A. Z. Dimitroff, Bureau of Mines, District Mgr., Rocky Mtn. Dist 15162795