Document N2oqxqrLaxD8gYJpJ6NGOzZaR

a'VisTALS DIVISION p.o. box 579.4525 royal ave., Niagara falls, new York kso: To (Nirvj) Division Location Mr. T. F. Carmody Data Health, Safety & Environmental Affairs 270 Park Avenue - 11th Floor Originating Dept. New York, NY Answering letter date November 23, 1977 "Calidria" Asbestos Copy to Messrs. T. D. Finnegan R. F. X. Fusaro L. Myers W. C. Thurber J. W. Whittlesey Subject H.R. 8689 CONFIDENTIAL The attached bill has been drawing both considerable support from a variety of groups and also considerable opposition. Dr. Selikoff, for example, is strongly in favor of it. Johns-Manville has also had a number of discussions with the Tobacco Lobby and has gotten their attention with the concept that tobacco plus asbestos may be a different legal issue than tobacco alone. The implication is that tobacco could be in for another round of litigation in this area and the bill may benefit them. In any case, I have been informed that there is a good chance that there will be a committee hearing early in the next session of Congress. There will also be a briefing on the bill available to the AIA/NA Directors in Washington on December 13, 1977 that I plan to attend. A much earlier version of this bill was reviewed and extensively criticized by the Union Carbide Law Department about a year ago. It would be very helpful to me in my AIA/NA activities to have a similar corrcnentary on this version by our appropriate legal expert. It should be emphasized that unless otherwise advised, I plan to continue our very low profile position for Union Carbide in this matter. HBR/rmm Attachment Harrison B. Rhodes A08348