Document NXNyZ89258k28KD6bY8Z4mwR

Summary of Benzene Task Force Conference Call November 19, 1999 Participants: P. Beatty, M. Bird, C. Fairbrother, G. Raabe, R. Schnatter, J. Vail 1) Formation of Expert Panel to Review Shanghai Benzene Worker Study The majority of the call dealt with the issue of the composition of the panel of experts to review the three proposed Shanghai worker studies. The conference call participants agreed to the following list of potential panel members: 1) Dr. Richard Albertini, University of Vermont 2) Dr. Elizabeth Delzell, University of Alabama, Birmingham 3) Dr. Richard Larson, University of Chicago 4) Dr. Nancy Mueller, Harvard University Michael Bird agreed to contact Dr. Albertini and Delzell; Pat Beatty will contact Dr. Larson and Gerry Raabe will get in touch with Nancy Mueller to ascertain their willingness to serve on the panel. Jim Vail will follow-up the initial conversations and coordinate the issuance of contracts with API and schedule the meeting of the experts. As for possible backups in the event these experts decline the opportunity to serve on the panel, Gary Marsh (Univ. of Pittsburgh) or Richard Monson (Harvard) were suggested as possible replacements for Elizabeth Delzell. If Richard Albertini declines, a possible suggested substitute is Martyn Smith. Rob Schnatter indicated that write-ups of two of the proposed studies should be completed by midDecember. (Otto Wong's draft proposed study ofNHL has already been prepared). Completion of these more detailed write-ups is required prior to the expert panel meeting. Conference call participants requested that the experts meet as soon as possible, since it is likely that the project write-ups will have to be revised to reflect their recommendations. There was general agreement that API would offer the panelists a $l,OOO/day honorarium for two day's effort (one day to review the studies and the second to attend the meeting). It was also agreed that both Otto Wong and Rich Irons should be invited to the meeting of the review team and that the funding for this should come from the API-EBSI contract. Jim Vail will modify the current contract with EBSI to allow for this. Regarding whether or not the initial review panel participants would also be on the long-term oversight group it was decided to defer this decision. Summary of Meeting with Shell and Exxon to Build Support for Studies The meeting held, November l8tl1 in Houston indicated support for the proposed studies, especially as a fully integrated project, not as an assemblage of separate studies. The view was expressed that the project should not be initiated until sufficient money was committed up front. There was also the view that the member company legal departments will have no role in funding and no role in monitoring the studies' progress. The role of legal departments would be in supporting the position before senior management that the studies had value from a litigation standpoint as well as in regulatory, legislative and scientific applications. The opinion was expressed that in order for the study to attain a high degree of credibility, the oversight panel should reflect a spectrum of viewpoints. The next step will be to identify other petrochemical companies as possible coalition members and have a larger meeting with technical and business people. This will take place after the expert panel meeting. SHELL-MCCLURG-060515 IPIECA Support for Studies Gerry Raabe reiterated that a draft presentation to IPIECA in early February 2000 would be needed to be prepared by the middle of January, to allow time for proper review by the BTF. Patrick Beatty will begin preparation of a presentation. Gerry reported that at a recent meeting IPIECA has agreed in principle to advocate support for large research projects that have international application. Other A conference call of the BTF to discuss progress in the formation of the panel, status of study write-ups and building support for the Shanghai studies was set for Wednesday, December 1, 1999 at 11 :00 a.ill. [This call was subsequently canceled, because of a delay in the formation of the expert panel and because there was already a discussion of the Houston meeting during the Nov. 19t11 call.] N.B. Subsequent to the November 19t11 conference call, Drs. Larson, Albertini and Delzell have indicated their willingness to participate in a review of the Shanghai study designs. (Dr. Mueller has not yet responded to voicemail messagesleftforher.)ThepanelmeetingwillbeinChicago.IL. with the anticipated date sometime during the workweek beginning, Monday, January lOtll. BTF members will be kept informed of significant developments. SHELL-MCCLURG-060516