Document 6wgVeR0MRw3qoNgaxzVedbvxg

AGENDA MEETING OF THE MCA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 12:30 p. m. , Monday, November 22, 19*76 Pinnacle Club, 150 East 42nd Street, New York City Financial Report for Five Months Ended October 31, 1976 -- Finance Committee Chairman Thomas S. Farmer Comments. Current Issues Confronting the Chemical Industry -- Occupational Safety and Health -- Air -- Water. Proposed Survey on Environmental Management in Chemical Manufacturing, Report on November 17 Meeting Regarding Possible Industry Program to Develop Data Concerning Permissible Exposure Limit for Benzene. Administrative Matters. CMA061898 MINUTES OF MEETING MCA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Pinnacle Club, New York City November 22, 1976 Following lunch at 12:30 p. m. , the meeting was called to order by the chairman. There were present: James G. Affleck, Chairman Earle B. Barnes William H. Bricker John T. Connor Edward Donley William J. Driver J. Morris Evans Richard E. Heckert H. Barclay Morley Tom K. Smith, Jr. William S. Sneath Harvey J. Taufen Robert A. Winslow Daniel K. Mayers. Outside Counsel Bruce M. Barackman, Staff Counsel George E. Best. Secretary-Treasurer By Invitation: Harry D. McNeeley, Eastman Kodak Company 1. Financial Report for Five Months Ended October 31, 19 76 Mr. Best reported the information shown in Exhibit A. Speaking for Mr. Farmer, chairman of the Finance Com mittee, who was unable to be present, Mr. Driver commented on current and prospective status outlined in three tabulations distributed to those present. While five-month expenditures are well within the budgeted schedule, there is little expectation of reducing the projected deficit approx imating $200, 000 for the current fiscal year, and a rough projection for 1977-78 indicates a further deficit of about $400, 000. if the present mem bership fee scale continues in use. Such depletion of reserves would lower their level considerably below the 50%-of-budget goal. The Finance Com mittee is interested in a possible increase in membership fees and whether some modification of the reserves goal should be considered. Mr. Driver promised a further update in January. 2. Major Issues Confronting the Chemical Industry Dr. Affleck announced Mr. Winslow had consented to serve as Senior Advisor to the Air Quality Committee in reference to future legislative developments pertaining to the Clean Air Act, and Dr. Taufen as Senior Advisor to the CMA 061899 2- - 1 Occupational Health Committee and other MCA committees relevant to regula tory developments under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Dr. Affleck also mentioned his hope that Mr. Sneath would find it possible tc serve similarly in connection -with the Water Resources Committee and legis lative developments pertaining to the Water Pollution Control Act. 3. Proposed Survey on Environmental Management in Chemical Manufacturing The questionnaire proposed for this survey was distributed in advance with the tentative agenda. Mr. Driver indicated it to be similar to the one used for the same purpose two years ago. As in prior instances, reports from individual companies would be held in confidence and destroyed as soon as the data had been aggregated. No one questioned proceeding with the survey, and it was agreed to recommend approval, but there was much emphasis on making more effective use of the results for public impact and recognition. It was also suggested that the data be interpreted in relation to control differentials, to show that incremental improvements at higher levels are disproportionately expensive. Inasmuch as the lag in providing adequate municipal waste treat ment facilities tends to cloud industrial progress in water pollution control, it was suggested consideration be given to endorsing more Federal financial assistance for the construction of public facilities. 4. Industry Program re OSHA Regulation on Benzene Mr. Driver related that concern about the NIOSH recommendation that ben zene be considered a carcinogen, with permissible exposure limit reduced from 10 ppm to 1 ppm, had prompted a request for MCA to coordinate in dustry efforts pertaining to OSHA's development of a standard for occupation al exposure to benzene. After consulting with the MCA Board officers, he convened a meeting of representatives of fourteen member companies for a preliminary indication of breadth of interest in having MCA conduct such a program, with an affirmative outcome. Whereas prior MCA association with product-oriented activities has been restricted to assembly and release of information with attribution to the sources directly involved, without interpretation by MCA, Mr. Driver indicated the proponents of a benzene program have in mind the possibility of MCA becoming an advocate on their behalf. All features of such a program, and especially any MCA recommendations therefrom, would be subject to Board approval. The precedent-setting aspect was discussed at length. On the one hand, there is a desire to be of service to member companies and the realization that general regulations may evolve from single-product con siderations one by one. On the other hand, there was immediate realization of the incapacity for taking on an unlimited number of product-oriented problems and of the inherent complications in being selective. Mention was CMA 061900 -3- made, for example, of the current interest in MCA's Plastics Group for the Association to deal with some of the problems relating to plastics materials. Moreover, there was full appreciation of the difficulties in arriving at scientifically defensible positions. Mr. Barackman reported recent discussion of this matter within the Legal Advisory Committee supported MCA's traditional posture of testifying on behalf of the industry regarding general principles of reg ulation, and as to a principle that might have wider application even though immediately under consideration for specific substances. Product-oriented programs which MCA has undertaken to ad minister, such as technical investigations on plastics materials and toxi cological research on specific chemicals, have had full financial support from their sponsors (i. e. , not involving the general funds of the Associations. There was a clear consensus that this practice should be continued. While there was acquiescence in proceeding with a detailed proposal on benzene for formal consideration, no judgment was made. It was requested that a policy paper be prepared to serve as a guide in such matters. There was full agreement that member companies should retain the prime responsibility for their respective products, and that any activities that might be organized through MCA should not be viewed as a replacement. 5. Administrative Matters (a) Meeting of Committee Officers with MCA Staff Mr. Driver told of the November 4th meeting of technical and functional committee officers with the Association's professional staff, which he characterized as useful in acquainting the committee representatives with the wide scope and magnitude of MCA's program and in responding to their interest in cross-committee coordination and liaison. He indicated those who attended shared his view that such gatherings should occur infrequently. (b) Meeting for Executive Contacts of Small Member Companies Mr. Driver mentioned planning a meeting early in 1977 for the Executive Contacts of the smaller half of the Association's member ship, in order to foster a better acquaintance with the staff and current program activities, and to obtain any suggestions for better servicing of small-company interests. (c) Executive Committee Attendance by Directors' Alternates Whereas attendance by Alternates for absent members at Executive Com mittee meetings has been justifiable only on the basis of special need, it was agreed that henceforth such attendance should be encouraged, with advance notification by phone to the Chairman desired. Attendance by both the Director and Alternate at the same meeting, however, would be inappropriate. CMA 061901 -4- (d) Cancellation of December Meeting There being no pending matters known to need early resolution, it was agreed to cancel the meeting scheduled for December 14, 1976. It was noted that the January meeting and others in Washington to follow are slated to take place at the Washington Hilton. (e) 1980 Census Mr, Driver told of ZPA interest in having a 20% sample in the 1980 Census include a question on cigarette smoking as an aid to differentiating among the causes of health problems. It was agreed this is outside MCA1 s field and it would be inappropriate for MCA to express an opinion. Certified correct: G/\ Jamesyb. ^4/leck, Chairman Executive Committee 1 1 ^^ '^ George E. Best Secretary -Treasurer CMA 061902 EXHIBIT A REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-TREASURER November 22, 1976 Dollar amounts rounded from tabular details ($000) INCOME & EXPENSE June 1, 1976 - October 31, 1976 - 5 Months (42%) Income - Membership Fees Other $2,764 301 $3,065 Expense - Operations Projects $1,024 76 $1,100 Percent of Budget 100,492% 61.429% 94.599% 34.147% 14.720% 32.080% ASSETS (As of October 31. 1976) Cash Investments Miscellaneous $ 20 7,055 7 $7,084 CMA 061903 GEORGE E BEST VICE PRESIDENT SECRETARY.TREASURER MANUFACTURING CHEMISTS ASSOCIATION 182b CONNECTICUT AVENUE, N W WASHINGTON D C 20009 (202) 483-6126 TO MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dear Sirs: The regularly scheduled December meetings of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors have been can celled per announcement made at the meeting in November. Therefore, the next regular meetings will take place on January 11, 1977, at the Washington Hilton in Washington, the usual notice for which will be sent to you. Sincerely, November 23, 1976 cc; Alternates MCA Staff CMA 061904