Document MJn1JazRbzBnX8b1vV2GR8zEy

Jack T. Garrett, Medical Department_______________ _____ __ ______ December 16, 1969 ' F. Fague, Detroit N. T. Johnson, NJOHN R. E. Keller, S. Second St. W. R. Richard, WRICH W. C. Robinson, WROBI n p h-------------^ <;) Howard S. Bergen HBERO On Friday morning, the fifth of December, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Pague, Dr. Tucker and myself met with Mr. Ralph W. Purdy, Executive Secretary; Mr. Jack Frost, Chief Engineer; Mr. W. 0. Turney, Regional Engineer; Mr. Carlos Fetteroff, Biologist--all of the Michigan Water Resources Commission. We discussed the PCB problem In general and specifically pointed out to these gerTtjtfemen that all the data we have been able to assemble Indicates that the lower chlorinated biphenyls are not general environmental contaminants. We further assured them that the principal PCB com ponents In hydraulic fluids used In Michigan were the lower chlorinated type. They generally accepted this summation of the data available and will probably accept this until they see data to the contrary. We then discussed the letter that Mr. Frost wrote to the automobile manufacturers In Michigan concerning the type of hydraulic fluids use and warning that Monsanto's Pydrauls are specifically hazardous. The WRC people said this was largely due to Information they had received from our competitors In Michigan. After considerable discussion, Mr. Frost volunteered to write a letter to the same addresses as the original letter explaining that the Michigan Water Resources Commission was interested In the potential problems that arise from the discharge of any type of hydraulic fluid and that control of these fluids must be improved to avoid a potential threat to the Immediate water environment. We discussed the fresh water clam kill that occurred In the Clemens River north of Detroit. This river Is tributary to Lake St. Clair and a large fish fresh water clam kill was noted in the river delta In the early fall of this year. An analysis of, these clams showed very high concentrations of heavy* metals and subsequent analysis by the federal laboratory In Ann Arbor elevated levels of PCB. The Water Resources Commission people admitted that there had been clam kills In the past but that they were trying to deter mine what created this specific kill. Dr. Tucker agreed to analyze some of the clams that will be sent to him by Mr. Fetteroff. : HONS 096520 Mr. Howard S. Bergen December 16, 1969 Page Two This meeting can be classified as successful in taking the immediate pressure off of Pydraul 312 sales. Copies of the WRC letter will be distributed to our customers by our salesmen as soon as we receive a copy with an explanation, if necessary, of what the letter means. It must be realized, however, that if 1242 is ever proven to be a persistent environ mental contaminant we could be out of business with Aroclor containing fluids in the State of Michigan. MONS 096521