Document KJwgXvDnedX2MxXv2ZOy02bxX

PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT PRESS QUERY (x) Divisional ( ) Financial ( ) Corporate Date Time April 12, 1971, 2: p.m. QUERIED BY: (REPORTER AMD MEDIA) Monte Mate, San Francisco Chronicle St. Louis Bulletin Board New York Public Relations New York Textiles Public Relations West Coast Public Relations Brussels Public Relations Lloyd R. Cple P1 ITftm at Ptirtgr^rr L. Cosaage (X) /Charles J. Smith (X) Elmer P. Wheeler (X) William R. Richard QUERY: ` The National Observer has asked aw to do a follow-up story on what is being done about the PCB/environmental problem. You will recall that the San Francisco Chronicle was one of the first papers in this country to present a lay version of the problem. What has Monsanto been doing? ANSWER: (Mr. Wate was given a general description of Monsanto's PCB/environmanta program from our initial identification and aieasurement stage in 1968 up to the present.) The next logical question is "why has Monsanto gone to this effort?" The answer is that we, as the sole U.S. producer of PCB, felt a responsibility toward protecting the envlronoient and, at the same time, a reaponsiblllty toward keeping these products in use in those systems where it performs an outstanding safety function -- which protects people. Many state and local laws require safety fluids in electrical equipment. There is no better product than PCB available for this use. (Mr. Wate asked for scow background material, which I sent him -- two news releases plus the three write-ups, .one on control of escape to the environment; chronic toxicity, and biodegradation atudies. HONS 057093 SOURCE OF ANSK '.it (List All Sources) Files NAME (Staffer Handling Query) E. V. John