Document 7OxjjkzrDmp3mX3KkLnk1Mm46

Monsanto I MOM 1MAMt ft LOCA1 l DATt CUftJlCT Kt *(NCl TO : C. Paton - B2SC December 23, 1971 DISCONTINUATION OF THERMINOD FR SALES PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL R. L. Brandenburger R. T. Clark D. J. Murphy t-&T F. Pickard P. L. Slayton E. L. Shlmley H. R. Ford D. R. Hansen ~v>CB- ^ cc J. F. Stapleton/P. S. Park III H. S. Bergen J. Mason W. Corey T. L. Qossage N. T. Johnson W. S. Clark J. J. Roder D. E. Roush D. Danzer O. S. Ratterman F. M. Calkins R. L. Neary P. V. Gann Further to my memo of December 17, I am sending you answers to questions that may be raised by customers concerning our withdrawal of Thermlnoffi> FR heat trans fer fluids. Please do not circulate these questions and answers and do not volunteer this Information unless specifically asked. If you need answers to questions not on this list, please call me at 4-2520 and I will try to get them for you. Customer reaction to our decision so far has been excellent. Calls have been received by the team of conversion engineers from 24 customers who received our formal notification letter without any personal forewarning. None gave us any "static" and conver sion plans are underway smoothly. Management in St. Louis has called around 80 key accounts by tele phone. Again, no adverse reaction was received. Thank you for your cooperation. Attachment /kl ? C. Paton 10 m v h , EX P-2970 Page 1 of 5 PCB-ARCH0753462 DISCONTINUATION OP THERMINOli PR SALES 1. Q. Why has Monsanto decided to discontinue Therminol PR heat transfer fluid sales? A. We have previously written to all Thermlnoi PR heat transfer fluid customers alerting them to the precautions necessary In handling and using these PCB-containing products. Earlier this year we stopped selling Therminol PR fluids for new heat trans fer fluid systems. We also discontinued sales of make-up Therminol PR fluid to food-related applications and worked with these customers In converting PR fluid to non-PCB heat transfer liquids (e.g., Therminol 55 and Therminol 66). We have now de cided to discontinue all Therminol PR heat transfer fluid sales In the U.S.A. and Canada because there are serious problems associated with the possibility of accidental leakage of PCB from heat transfer systems. 2. Q. Who within Monsanto decided to discontinue Therminol PR heat transfer fluid sales? A. This decision was made by Monsanto's corporate management and affirmed by Its Board of Directors at their monthly meeting in December, 1971. 3. Q. Does this action mean Monsanto is getting out of the heat transfer business? A. No. The sales ban applies only to the PR series of fluids (Therminol PR-Lo Temp, Therminol PR-0 and Thermlnoi PR-1), The PR series is the only one that contains PCBs. All other Thermlnoi heat trans- EX P-2970 Page 2 of 5 0**232* PCB-ARCH0753463 -2- fer fluids (Thermlnol 55, 66, 77 and 88) are PCB-free. 4. Q. Arc you banning sales of all Thermlnol fluids? A. No. Not all Thermlnol fluids contain PCBs. Thermlnol FR series (i.e., FR-Lo Temp, FR-0 and FR-1) are the only ones containing PCBs. All other Thermlnol fluids (i.e., Thermlnol 55, 66, 77 and 88) are PCB-free. 5. Q. What replacements are available from Monsanto for Thermlnol FR fluids? A. The most likely Monsanto replacements are Thermlnol 55 or 66. We must advise you that none of Monsanto's remaining Thermlnol heat transfer fluids are fire resistant. We suggest you work closely with your insurance company In converting from Thermlnol FR fluids so that you make a carefully considered Informed de cision. As stated in our letter of December 15, 1971, Monsanto has a team of engineers available to be of assistance to you in making your decision. They may be contacted by telephone at (314) 694-2514 or by writing Dr. Cummlng Paton, Monsanto Company, P.0. Box 14617, St. Louis, Missouri 63178. 6. Q. What other fire resistant heat transfer fluids are available from Monsanto? A. Unfortunately we have none available and will not have one availa ble in the foreseeable future. 7. Q. What other fire-resistant heat transfer fluids are available in the U.S.A. or Canada? EX P-2970 Page 3 of 5 0442325 PCB-ARCH0753464 -3 - A. The only fire resistant heat transfer media we know of are high pressure water and molten salts. Both of these systems have dis advantages which may rule them out as replacements for many existing Thermlnoi fr systems. 8. Q. Could I obtain PCB fluids outside the U.S.A. or Canada? A. PCBs are manufactured In Prance, West Germany, Italy and Japar. The decision on Imports Is yours to make. We would suggest, however, you consider such a course of action very carefully. 9. Q. A. Why has Monsanto acted so precipitately on Thermlnol PR sales? We do not consider our action precipitous. 10. Q. We do not dispute Monsanto's reason for Its decision on Thermlno] FR fluids; our strong criticism of Monsanto con cerns the lack of warning by Monsanto that they were going to ban Thermlnoi PR sales. Why were we given no warning? A. Our previous communications should have alerted you to the possibility of this decision on our part. We believe warnings were given. We communicated our decision that no new heat transfer systems would be sold Thermlnol PR. Sales of Therminol FR to food-related applications were discontinued. In addition, we have encouraged remaining customers to consider converting to a non-Thermlnol PR fluid either before or at the time for the next "make-up". 11. Q. We believe it Is Impossible to convert all ThermlnoJ PR systems In the U.S.A. and Canada on the day your decision was received. That means heat transfer systems are still operating op PR fluid; why can't we have another drum or two to last until such time EX P-2970 as we can shut down our plant for convePageifftof 5 PCB-ARCH0753465 -4 - A. Monsanto believes that lee-way In the natter of filling Therminol FR orders after Its decision was communicated could lead to stock piling, which we believe Is unwise under the present circumstances, One of the key reasons for establishing a team of engineers at Monsanto Is to give advice and assistance to aid customers In arriving at Informed decisions on how to handle such situations. Assistance may be obtained by calling (314) 69^-2514 at Monsanto's St. Louis headquarters. 12. Q. How long will the engineering team be available to help on con versions? A. We would hope most customers will have converted to non-FR fluids In the first four months of 1972. However, the engineer ing team supplements the ongoing team of Monsanto heat transfer fluid specialists. Monsanto's heat transfer fluid specialists are always available for reasonable periods to assist customers. 13. Q. What evidence do you have that Therminol 55 and 66 will not give similar problems to the ones that have arisen with Therminol FR? A. We will send you bulletins on Therminol 55 or 66 which contain relevant data on this subject. 14. Q. Your letter of December 15, 1971 states that refunds on returned Therminol FR fluids will not be given after March 1, 1972. Does this mean I must convert to another fluid by then? A. The decision on when and to what to convert is yours. The re fund policy applies only to unopened drums of Thermlnoi fr you may be carrying as Inventory In your warehouse. EX P-2970 Page 5 of 5 04*237 7 PCB-ARCH0753466