Document O1q3k1oB7JRXMDGX0Gbg72Yzj

From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Attach: Matt Todd <ToddM@api.org> Thursday, September 19, 2002 8:48 PM (GMT) benzconsort-oc@api.org; benzconsort-tc@api.org; benzconsort-cc@api.org Howard Feldman <Feldman@api.org>; Thomas Gray <Grayt@api.org>; Shannon Stewart (E-mail)<sstewart@apcoassoc.com> BHRC: Update, Briefing Document & Conference Call Benzene actions 9-19-02.doc; China Benzene Paper Exec Comm 10-02.doc To all BHRC Committee Members: Attached is the update from Howard Feldman, Director of Regulatory Analysis and Scientific Affairs. Attached is the Shanghai Health Study briefing document for the upcoming Oct. 13-14 API Board and Executive Committee Meetings. Please inform me of your availability to participate in a conference call by COB tomorrow (9/20) to provide feedback on the briefing document. Available times for the call are 2pm EDT, Monday, Sept. 23; or 2pm EDT, Tuesday, Sept. 24. This document will be mailed next week to the meeting attendees. Thank you and my apologies for the short notice. - Matt Matthew Todd Regulatory Analysis and Scientific Affairs American Petroleum Institute 1220 L. Street NW Washington, DC 20005 p: (202)682-8319 f: (202)682-8031 www.api.org -----Original Message----From: Howard Feldman Sent: Thursday, September 19, 2002 3:23 PM To: Bill Frick; Paula Podhasky; Lorraine Twerdok; Thomas Gray; Matt Todd; George Woodall Subject: Shanghai Benzene Health Consortium materials Attached are a memo and draft issue paper for the SBHC recruiters. Matt, pis forward. Howard ~~ fl, *;eUmau Director, Regulatory Analysis and Scientific Affairs American Petroleum Institute 202-682-8340 phone 202-682-8270 fax feldman@api.org Visit the New www.api.org SH ELL-MCCLU RG-054403 For Information Attachment? API Executive Committee Issue: Continued funding shortfall for the research project in China to study the potential health effects of benzene. Background: There is continued concern with the potential health effects of benzene as it relates to worker exposure, site remediation and personal injury claims. Approximately three years ago, industry researchers became aware of information generated by the Chinese government regarding benzene exposures of certain workers and their health histories. Given the quality of the records, this is viewed as a unique opportunity to study the relationship between exposure and risk of certain diseases, particularly non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. A five-year program has been developed that would produce epidemiology data and disease progression studies. The Chinese government is very supportive of having these additional studies done; an ethics panel including US and Chinese experts has been involved in oversight of the project. The study will provide the scientific and regulatory communities with information in order to more accurately assess the risks from exposure to benzene, enhancing our product stewardship. Project Status: Three inter-related studies are underway: 1. Case-Control Epidemiology Study 2. Disease Progression Study 3. Molecular Epidemiology Study Renovation of space for a clinical hematology laboratory at Fudan University in Shanghai is complete. Purchase and installation of capital equipment is underway and intensive training of Chinese laboratory technicians is in progress. The laboratory startup activities are on track to be able to begin processing samples from study participants in the 151 quarter of 2003. Evaluation of previous and current Shanghai workplace exposures is in process and training of exposure assessment technicians is beginning. Legal and public affairs expertise have been retained to facilitate communications activities of the consortium. Funding status: Thus far, the five companies that agreed to fund the study at its inception (BP, ChevronTexaco, Conoco, ExxonMobil and Shell Chemical) are the only companies to have committed funding. Their commitments total $16.5 million based upon a refinery capacity-based share agreement. Based on the protocol enhancements suggested by an independent scientific review panel, the Consortium Business Oversight Committee approved a $22.8 million program. To address the shortfall, other US and non-US companies within the petroleum industry, chemical sector, and non-petrochemical industries have been approached. To date, no additional entities have joined. The consortium members are currently executing a plan drafted in September to approach additional companies by the end of 2002. Despite the planned efforts, the likelihood of identifying additional sponsors to cover the shortfall is believed to be small. Therefore, we anticipate the need to seek additional SH ELL-MCCLU RG-054404 guidance from the Executive Committee on ways to address the funding shortfall in early 2003. SH ELL-MCCLU RG-054405 Interoffice Memo American Petroleum Institute 1220 L Street, Northwest Washington, D.C. 20005-4070 202-682-8000 Date: { TIME \ @ "MMMM d, yyyy" } To: Shanghai Benzene Health Consortium Recruiters From: Howard J. Feldman Re: API activities I'd like to advise you of the following developments since the Friday, September 13 meeting. 1. Lorraine Twerdok is expected to return to work September 23. Nonetheless, while API continues to seek a full-time toxicologist, we are in discussions with a contractor to provide us with assistance on the SBHC and other programs. 2. While in Brazil, Bill Frick, API Vice President and General Counsel, spoke with representatives from a couple of entities regarding potential participation in the SBHC. He passed materials on the consortium to Petronas and to Dr. Lidian Chen, former Secretary-General of the Chinese Petroleum Society for distribution to appropriate individuals in the various Chinese petroleum companies. 3. I have discussed with Bill Frick, who has subsequently discussed with Red Cavaney, API President and CEO, the appropriate overture to the API Executive Committee at the upcoming October meeting. They recommend bringing the funding shortfall to the attention of the Executive Committee now and letting the EC know that the SBHC will be back, probably at the March meeting, for additional"guidance." 4. In light item 3, I have drafted the attached Issue Paper. Please provide me with any comments you may have. Attachment Cc: B. Frick L. Twerdok T. Gray P. Podhasky M. Todd SH ELL-MCCLU RG-054406