Document 9JBDab7zLOzeDgK9q68N1M1zR

March lo, 19^3 Mr. Harry Kaley, Ethyl Corporation, Chrysler Building, New York City. Dear Harry: I have gone over y>ur correspondence with Dr. Calingaert and Mr. Gonzalez, concerning the handling of small shipments of tetraethyl lead from the Detroit Laboratory. I think Calingaert*s position is well taken. It would be most un fortunate if we were unable to observe the usual courtesies that prevail among scientific workers, and therefore, I think in a case such as the one last referred to, he should feel quite at liberty to supply tetraethyl lead in small quantities after exercising the care that he has described. I did think, however, that In every instance a report of such action should be forwarded to the Safety Department and also to me . It is extremely improbable that any difficulty will arise out of matters of this sort, but if anything should occur, ve should have the means of knowing just how it came about - Any difficulties are likely to raise some question of litigation, and for this reason I have tried to have information concerning every transaction of this sort that Is carried out by the Corporation. I am not quite sure that Calingaert is aware that the general procedure was adopted a number of years ago whereby all re quests for Ethyl Fluid were referred to Dr. Edgar so that they would be a matter of record . If any question deve&ps concerning them, they were always referred to me, and in any case I was always informed of what had been done. More re cently, as you have pointed out, it has been understood that all such requests would be referred to the Safety Department with the idea that such investigation as might be required would be made to see that no undue hazard was allowed to de velop Inadvertently. Quite some time after the establishment, of this general procedure which, of course, applies chiefly to the Manufacturing Plant, it was found that Fluid had been supplied on a few occasions by the Engineering Laboratory. The recommendation was then made that the Engineering Depart ment should fellow the same procedure as the Manufacturing Department with reference to supplying Fluid for experimental work. Under this mechanism a thorough investigation of the circumstances could be made in each instance and provision Mr. Harry Haley - (2) - March 10, 19^3 could be made whereby experimental mixing could be done with out hazard. This, I believe, should be the general policy of the Corporation with respect to all shipments of Fluid re gardless of their size or their source. I believe, however, that the situation is somewhat different with respect to the chemical ingredients of the Fluid. Therefore, I suggest the procedure indicated above in the case of the small quantities of tetraethyl lead that might be supplied from time to time. Very truly yours. PAH ef Robert "A . liehoe, KI) C. C. Dr. George Cslingaert KB 0009897