Document DvraEak5BQ48O3vREkdv58zrd

Monsanto (MOM IC W. B. Papageorge August 57. 1975 UftJlC.V *( fHNCt RONMENTAL REVIEW EARINO TO H. S. Bergen T. L. Oossage C. Pa ton R. Q. Potter W. W. Withers D. Wood ^ BSSK ct W. R. Richard J. R. Savage Hie Michigan Environmental Review Board, a citizens' committee appointed by the governor to advise him on environ mental matters, met on August 25, 1975, in Lansing, Michigan. One of the items on their agenda, copy attached, was the consideration of a Michigan State Department of Natural Resources recommendation that PCBs be banned or severely restricted in Michigan. I spoke on the items indicated in a letter from Mr. Boyd Klnzley, a staff member of the MERB. A copy 1b attached. Many of the board members were not aware of our restricted sales program. It was evidfent that previous reports of the presence of PCBs in hand soap. Xerox toner, cutting oils, etc. were not based on analyses of samples but resulted from con fused communications between industry and government represents tlves. Dow Coming's representative spoke on the use of silicones as transformer fluids. He Btated that his company was convinced that silicones were environmentally acceptable and although not as fire resistant as SBkarels, were still considered good alternatives. Six transformers were built by Westlnghouse and filled with silicone fluid. Three of these transformers are Installed in Dow Coming's plant in Midland, Michigan. When questioned on length of service he stated some of the units were two to three years old. Dow Corning will have in six months a capacity of 10 million pounds per year of transformer type silicone fluid which will be priced at about $10.00 per gallon. - Dow's representative spoke of "Product Stewardship" and claimed his company's butylated monochlorodlphenyl oxide was an alternate for PCBs in power capacitors. Acute toxicity and biodegradation studies indicate environmental acceptability. Chronic toxicity studies are scheduled as well as studies to determine reproduc tion, mutagenic teratogenic and carcinogenic effects. He MONS 031536 H. S. Bergen et al. Page 2 August 27, 1975 tried to get some Indication of timing for action by the atate authorities. No committment was made by the MERB, but I got the Impression he was trying to indicate Dow needed a one to two year period to get this product ready for commercial application. Mcdraw Edison, as you know, has filled Borne capacitors for field trial. (Ed SimonB, Q. E., tells me Aerovox has also asked Tor trial quantities from Dow). Attempts were made by some members of the Board to pass resolutions regarding banning PCBs, restricting use of PCBs to closed systems, or banning all chlorinated hydrocarbons. None of these motions received a second. The chairman finally stated that the Department of Natural Resources would be asked for more Information before the MERB would act on the matter. W. B. Papageorge /pd HONS 031537