Document ByK9zpEzYdJmBj4Q8bo3a07b8

Locher let fork General American. Tank Storage 7mipuL Movember 28, 1945 Good Hope, Louisiana _ ; \.w : ' ' 7 Mr* festfall of the above company1 Hew fork office called me several weeks ago requesting Ethyl1 assistance la the preparation of certain tanks at their ternInal at Good Hope to enable then to store edible eile . Fro his conversation X gathered that there are several tanks involved, some of which have contained leaded gasoline for a short period of time only* is an approach to the problaa, ho was to send staples of the material now stored in these tanks to Ik*. Sehoe for analysis* From this analysis the next step would be deterined* The samples were sent, but unfortunately they were sent in tin sens rather than chemically clean glass containers. Dr. Kehee wrote Sr, Westfall on Roveaber 7th, and a oopy of his letter is attached* After receiving this letter, Mr. Westfall again called me, and as a result of this conversation, 1 told him that we would assist then in taking appropriate samples. In order to pave the way, he has written the Manager of their terminal at Good Hope, Mr* G. 3, Cassard, and a copy of this letter of Meveaber 1st is also attached. At your convenience will you have someone call on Hr. Cassard, developing this problem in greater detail, and If it appaars that eaapling of the product is indicated, arrange to have the appropriate ample* taken sad shipped directly to Ik1, Kehoe. In view of the Information in Mr. Kahoo*e letter to Mr Westfall it would be well to correspond with Mr* Kehoe directly, after y o u have analysed the problem* Vo should appreciate copies of your correspondence. 0. B. UtWXS N 7699 Mr* Homard Westfall ^ Eastern Manager . General American Tank Storage Terminals 50 West 50th Street Hew York City 20 ` , . Dear Mr. Westfall* Please refer to your letter of October 26 addressed, to Hr* 1. K, Locher of Ethyl Corporation concerning certain samples of materials taken from various tanks at your Good Hope; Louisiana terminal* . . - The samples indicated hare beenreceived, but examination of them in dicates that the results of their analysis migfrt w e l l be misleading and hare no relation to. the*problem in which you are interested. The reason is that these samples apparently hare been emit to you in temeplate cans. It is very likely that the materials, especially the water, will hare attacked the metal surface, dissolving some of the lead therein and being contaminatedthereby to such an extent that the lead content of the material in the tanks will not be portrayed. Any samples obtained for this purpose should be taken in-chemically clean glass containers, with every precaution against contamination of the material by its collection in any intermediate container It is my opinion that it would be wise for us to supply the necessary containers after an exchange of correspondence with your people at Good Hope directly, whereby we may learn the details of the problem that is to be solved and can give suitable instructions for an approach to it. As you are probably aware, it is not always easy at a distance to under stand just what is desired end to hart a d e a r basis of understanding as to the manner of collecting materials for examination. It is much batter that euchthings be worked out directly rather than through an intermediary, since the opportunities for misunderstanding are numerous. The analytes represent a considerable outlay of technical skill, which is entirely without point unless the samples hare been properly collected. This instance is a case in point. We should be wasting our time and misleading you if we were to analyze the present samples. It is my understanding that you are considering the storage #? certain edible oils in tanks that hare previously been used for the storage of leaded gasoline.' If this is your problem, there will be no advantage in analysing such things as bensol, water and lube oil. Moreover in order to determine whether any material introduced into one of these tasks has been contaminated we shall hare to know its lead content before Its introduction. Tor example, the lead content of lube oil may be considerable under any conditions. A M r s analysis will not servo to toll us or you anything about the source of lead. Therefore, we shall require "before and after* samples. On the whole, therefore, It will be best if we understand just what you ar attempting to do, in whieh case we shall be able to give you intelligent assistance. >. Very truly youre, /a/ RobertA. Kehoe, M. p. K K ' Q :y Otio ( 4 f S': o f l ' i i 1'- , ` S**;t i V .'}' " V 'JW O '.V - ' i i - t r * ? - t Wr \* . g e n e r a l Am e r i c a n s a n k s t o r a g e t e r m i n a l s A Division of General American Transportation Corporation ..7-!' 50 VXSS 50TH STREET ,, . - . < i NEir YORK, N* I# H. WESTFALL .' . MR G. J. CASSARD ' - ' . J:-. i.'. '; ' . '; r i'j . i, , . - G00DH0PI' * - r^ / " .-r November 21 1945 Pear George. .. . ' K\ fii-A Inreply to your letter of November I5th alx>ut the progress being n&de by the Etigrl Corporation in connection with samples taken from tanks at Goodhope which previously contained Ethyl gasoline, ! am. attaching a copy of Dr* Robert A* Kehoe** letter of November 7th ^ From this letter it is apparent me made a mistake in sending the samples to Idle laboratory in teraeplate cans as such cans are coated with lead instead of tin, which is the case in ordinary so called tin cans* As a result, there is bound to be some lead pickup from the can which is the particular f a o t v e are trying to determine about the samples . It is therefore essential that samples be taken in clean, glass bottles with no intermediate metal Containers* I have talked to Mr* E* K. Locher of the Ethyl Corporation here about the situation and we hare reached the conclusion that perhaps the best way of handling this situation la to have one of their engineers present to supervise the taking of the samples. Mr* Locher advises they will have a man in the Goodhope area i n t h e near future and we will appreciate your giving him your usual good cooperation Menwhile, Dr* Keh6e will be in New York today and we may develop some other Jnformation that is of interest :' , * Very truly yours, . ... /. / s / H * Westfall HIlMS . *1 . * ' * ^ OCt Mr, 3* S, 8elig, Chicago Mr* F* J# Flattner, Carteret r, I . ' !* Mr B* K# Locher Ethyl Corporation :>- 405 iwaington Avenue 'v New York, New York ' * . . .. - ' . "*r. - . - * ".'V-' . .. . " r p /'i :'f- t 5.V :-Cr , M 5 1 & h ' v.- ,* -* V - 4 - 1 '-*>*'*