Document RVGg8LY670L5LjG7GZkX18Qa

ASBESTOS INFORMATION ASSOCIATION NORTH AMERICA 1660 L Street. N.W. / Washington. D C. 20036 / (202) 223^885 Army & Navy Club BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING June 20, 1974 Washington, D. C. A meeting of the Board of Directors was held pursuant to notice, June 20, 1974 at the Army S Kavv Club, Washington, D. C.. The following Directors ware present: James W. Armstrong George Barge W. K. Beasley E. C. Bratt C. Nelson Codding Thomas A. Dougherty Bill Fassuliotis A. H. Fay A. R. Hooker John K. Marsh C. G. Morgan Kurt Schwarz Martin J. Sendecki F. J. Solon, Jr. William C. Thurber J. K. Whittaker Bendix Corporation Atlas Asbestos Company Cement A.sbestos Products Company Southern Asbestos Company Jim Walter Research Corporation Certain-teed Products .Corporation GAF Corporation National Gypsum Company The Flintkote Company Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc. North American Asbestos Corporation Supradur Manufacturing Corporation Congoleum Industries, Inc. Johns-Manville Corporation Union Carbide Corporation Nicolet Industries, Inc. Also present: R. H. Mereness, Executive Director, AIA/NA; arol W. Grant, Acminiscrative Assistant, nIA/NA; Jill Cummings, adv/alader, Wickersham & Taft, Legal Counsel; Terry Seeley and ue Simons, Government Research Corporation; Richard T. Davis, .?.A., Frank C. Frantz & Co., Accountants. Guests: Fred Workman, Nicolet Industries, Inc.; Russell Todd, Atlas Asbestos Company; William. A. MacLaurin, Bendix Corporation; Frank Zimmerman, National Gypsum Company. -M--i-n--u--t-e--s- Mr. Marsh, pre .dent, called the o on, the Minute of the preceding ating to order at 9:15 A.H.. sting; March 20, '..are O rn n n CAPCO JEN 0002784. approved as submitted. Financial Report The financial report for the period noted that the Associa tion is within its budget. Current dues structure provides an annual income of approximately $188,000. Monthly expenses, January through May, have. averaged slightly more than $14,000., the end of May, cash on hand was $6,000 with accounts payable approximately $1,000. The budget at the end of June will be revised to reflect employment of an assistant to the executive director and a slight increase in present rental for larger office space within the same building. The revised budget will also show an adjustment for the termination of the present contract with the public relations firm of Hill and Knowlton, Inc.. Effort is being made to establish a reserve fund to meet contingencies and extraordinary expense. The reserve account amounting to $5,000 + in a New York City savings and loan company will be transferred to a Washington firm. Federal Government Affairs Mses. Seeley and Simons of Government Research Corporation reported on current Federal governmental actions affecting the asbestos industry. A. IUD Suit The Court decision was made April 15, 1974 after more than a year of deliberation. The Court ordered OSHA to re-examine the 1976 date for implementation of the 2-fiber standard and the 3-year re quirement of monitoring records. All other IUD challenges were denied. IUD has requested a re-hearing, but such action is considered unlikely. The unanimous decision was by a 3-judge panel. OSHA lawyers are examining the Court decision for compliance to include rationale for establishing the 2-fiber standard for all segments of the industry in 1976. B. Tyler, Texas Suit Lawyers for the plaintiffs' $100 million suit against Pittsburgh-Corning et a_l. continue "discovery" against defendants, have asked for a jury trial but trial is not expected forat least two years. Administrative proceedings are in process against Labor Department and'GSA. Neither has responded. Suit cannot be filed earlier than six months following submission of complaint. i CAPCO JEN 0002785 3 C. Asbestos Standard in Coal Mine Operations On June- 5, Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration (MESA) held hearings on the coal mine asbestos standard. UKW called for a zero-fiber exposure level. NIOSH was thus supported in its demand for an immediate two-fiber standard. A two-fiber standard may be promulgated within next 60 days. AIA/iiA submitted background paper and opinion. Mr. Marsh thanked Mr. Thurber of Union Carbide for representing the Association at the meeting. ,-.r D. Oversight Hearings on OSHA House Oversight Hearings on OSHA, which started in March, continue with strong organized labor testimony and interests of small business being set forth. The Senate may commence hearings in the Fall. Proposed legislation, in general, is viewed by labor as weakening the Act and substantive changes are not expected. E. Workmen's Comoensation After a number of regional hearings, the Senate began hearings in Washington in mid-May. Sub-Committee may go into executive session late summer to draft new bill, e.g., re-opening of claims nay be dropped but philosophy re Federal standards will remain. It is not known if Senator Williams will bring bill to floor-of Senate this calendar year. ''' D. Reserve Mining Trial In preliminary ruling by three-judge panel on June 4, Circuit Court said fibers from mining operations present "unquantifiable risk", not a substantial danger to health, and the significance of the risk was based on unknowns. Court indicated Judge Lord had gone too far and had made legislative rather than judicial decision.' Court weighed question of whether circumstances of exposure to fiber was comparable to occupational settings and decided not. Court also weighed evidence of tissue studies noting that fibers were not found and quoted Dr. Salikoff, "If fibers aren't found, there would be no danger". Court concluded that in full appeals action, Reserve would win on health issue, but Reserve would not prevail on environmental question, stating that pollution of Lake Superior must be abated. Court stated Reserve situation was "a monumental environmental mistake". The Reserve plan for disposal is due June 29; plaintiff response on July 19. Judge Lord will reconsider the stay on his injunction by August 3. The Circuit Court will rule again on August 13, end of 70 days. EPA states Duluth drinking water presents a significant public health risk; that the Government needs to con tinue research on an asbestos drinking water standard. Feeding studies, under FDA, are expected to commence within a year. At this time, vinyl chloride is chief concern of Government and private environmental and occupational safety and health agencies. CAPCO JEN 0002786 A- Asbastos-health issues are overshadowed at the moment, but will undoubtedly return to public attention. Mr. Marsh's Visit to U.K. and France Mr. Marsh reported on his visit in March-April to The United Kingdom and France. In the U.K., he visited with representatives of AIC and ARC, toured the Scandura completely dry textile plant, and observed research activities at the University of Edinburgh and Penarth. He noted that asbestos industry-government relation ships are very close, that British expertise is needed in defense of the 2-fiber standard, and that feeding studies with rats are being conducted at Edinburgh. In France, Mr. Marsh visited with representatives of the Chambre Syndicale de l'Amiante. He said both French and British asbestos associations are interested in an international meeting asbestos association representatives as early as possible -- possibly in the Fall of this year. of American Industrial Hyganists Conference Mr. Marsh reported on the American Industrial Hygenists Conference held in Miami in May. He said representation 'by the asbestos industry was not adequate in terms of the importance of the meeting. Eleven papers related to asbestos were given on one day (distributed to members separately). The 5-fiber standard of AIHC, adopted by Canada, has not been changed. The Timbrell-Penarth paper, relating to critical fiber diameter and length, was cited for its importance. Mr. Marsh urged greater attendance by AIA/NA membership at the 1975 meeting of AIHC. Film "Asbestos At'Work" The film "Asbestos 'At Work", produced by ARC and distributed by AIC in The U.K., was shown. The 15-minute film discusses asbestos plant procedures and techniques for control of dust. The film may be borrowed from AIA/NA office. Executive Director's Report Mr. Mereness reviewed the activities of the Association and spoke of the current and projected programs, including monitoring of State legislation pertaining to asbestos, soon-to-be-published fact sheets oh asbestos-medical literature, brake linings, etc.. Ha spoke of his visit with Dr. Ian Webster, director National Research Institute for Occuoational Diseases, South African Medical Research Council and with Mr. Docherty of Cape Asbestos Co.. He invited attention to Dr. Webster's paper/'Asbestos and Malignancy" CAPCO JEN 0002787 5 and spoke of the research being conducted in South Africa, using primates under controlled conditions, work on an immunization vaccination and the outstanding pathological studies being con ducted by Dr. Webster and his associates.' The Executive Director also reported on the work of the Association's Standards and Technical Committee. He requested comment on the Association's recommendations for revision of the OSHA asbestos standard and the medical surveillance program be forwarded as soon'as possible, but not later than July lr` to com plete the submission to OSHA by July 15. Mr. Marsh stated that following completion of the work on the OSHA asbestos standard, the Standards and Technical Committee will develop work practices for the benefit and guidance of customers. He said that Assistant Secretary of Labor Stender (OSHA) is on record that the education and training of personnel within an industry is the responsibility of the industry, that OSHA could not provide indepth consulting services to small business on occupational safety and health matters. The job, as concerns asbestos, is up to the ' Association, said Mr. Marsh. Reoort on Medical Advisor for Association Mr. Marsh reported that he and Messrs. Solon and VJhittaker met with Raymond H. L. Murphy, Jr., M.D., Faulkner Hospital; and Harvard School of Public Health, on June 19 in Boston with regard to a position of medical advisor to the Association. Dr. Murphy, an emminent radiologist and research physician, expressed his interest and said he would advise as to his availability by midAugust. The importance of having access to professional consulta tion on asbestos-related disease and a medical spokesman was stressed. Priorities Mr. Harsh outlined current AIA/NA priorities as developed and approved by the Executive Committee in meeting of May 23. These are: - 1. Coordination with OSHA on revision of asbestos standard to be followed by development of information and educa tion program on work practices for customers.. 2. Competency of AIA/NA to answer medical and technical questions through in-house capability. Appropriate utilization of Standards and Technical Committee and Medical Advisor, importance of fact sheets, background papers, researched "q's" and "a's", and reference library was noted. 3. Cooperation with foreign asbestos associations and U.S. asbestos trade organizations. Need to further the CAPCO JEN 0002788 6 3. (Continued) exchange of information and ideas was stressed. AIA/NA concerns itself with environmental and occupational safety and health aspects of U. S. asbestos industry and can serve as an over-all source of information for the industry It is not product-line oriented and does not compete with r.or duplicate activities of asbestos "trade" associations. A meeting in this latter connection is scheduled June 27th with Asbestos Cement Pipe Producers Association. Messrs. Marsh and Mereness will meat with Mr. Micha.e7.Howe of AIC in Washington on June 23. 4. Preparation for anticipated Federal Government Hearings. AIA/NA must be prepared to testify on asbestos-health matters and defend the two-fiber standard. 5 . Monitoring, responding to, and initiating actions in connection -with State legislation. An effective means must be developed to take timely and effective actio.n with regard to legislation affecting the production, processing, and use of asbestos on State levels as the various States develop, occupational safety and health and environmental regulations. A questionnaire to....... members to ascertain State interests has been distributed. 6. Asbestos Information Booklet. This project can be helpful to the image of the industry as a public information tool and should be pursued. 7. Funding of scientific research on asbestos-health issue. In discussion, it was" noted that the Association's current budget does not permit funds for research as desirable as this may be. Mr. Whittaker advised his company (Nicolet) urged AIA/N'A funding of research, if only in a limited way. Mr. Solon recommended that this matter be further reviewed by the Executive Committee. Mr. Marsh announced that by letter dated June 12, the public relations firm of Hill and -Knowlton was advised of termination of present contract, effective August 19, 1974. Hill and Knowlton has offered to renew the contract at approximately one-half the present cost. The matter will be discussed at the next Executive Committee meeting. Luncheon Speaker Mr. Hebert J. Carton, Office of Toxic Substances, Environ mental Protection Agency, was guest sneaker following luncheon. Mr. Carton spoke of current and projected EPA studies relatin to asbestos including: mechanisms of asbestos lesions, epidemiology or. naturally occurring asbestos in 'water, ingestion and cancer, effects of asbestos on marina life, A-C pip-3 loop study. He also spoke of regulations for airborne asbestos emissions, and changes to demolition standard including definition of "friable" and costs CAPCO JEN 0002789 7 of compliance with solid waste disposal problems. He emphasized the importance of industry input in the development of regulations. Nev; Business The next meeting of the Board of Directors and the Annual Meeting will take place in Washington, D. C., September 11 at a place and time to be designated. Mr. Fay was appointed'Chairman of the nominating committee. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:35 P.M.. R. H. Mereness Executive Director 6/27/74 CAPCO JEN 0002790  -tK-V : ' GLD&F i-Mml. , Toronto' aV'3ff'? '*' ` ' '::" ':At?.-f'r "* .. . ; .... ,- V"7 - . ;'q' y c<2 ;. ,?v- J.";r. ' -* P n' -./Copied*'3?21-75 frlpra ^JPS^everson : ./. !or: . ,'.... ...5V-.-. . -FLBxckel- ..-.( 'sc.,..-> . #ox- . . , .. '. :.-rv-'/'.'s.v.iy'r ^Roberts ^ --- r.V-> ,, ' ,,,:' V- [Thought, you would be'interested in'tbe nimBrts^ubteA^^'' M{J the article. ^ . '. . . V - ' :-v*-;-/-'*. v -.1- > -.-V ` . * V- :<-l ..VJO y ,*d* id In vide ils be re *1 rTSl rJ fce *F c- dh *h MAR 5 l r!i .jiy *e* it Wt Shulman takes own samples ty ARNOLD nrx.\xn " Dr. Morton Shulman braved icy laketroat breezes at dawn yesterday to take samples of * water fiovrbg into Lake Ontario from the Canadian Jeluis-Man- \ille Co. Ltd. asbestos plant in Scarborough. Dressed in a business suit and carrying lo jars, the New Dem ocratic Party member of the Legislature tor Jiigh Park was led to the spot at the mouth of Highland Creek by Gerard Sonicr. a former worker at the mu* ^ripal sewage treatment plant across the creek. Mr. Srcicr, a carpenter, said that as recently as last October he satv effluent from the rear of the plant ' turn the water blue.** Or. Sho'.man has cxprciscd fears that asbestos drinking water can cause cancer it the digestive system--fears based on what he ha* described as authoritative articles and ou asbestos fibre counts in the Great Lakes sys tem. 1 lie area viewed by Dr. Shulnuu and a reporter is a dump at Ihe rear of the asVstos plant, sorrouruhng a i-uci in which m**itU m the w.itcr from U:c .cdt'-xtj*N f:'l>nv;;uig operation ;:rv all..wrd to sclth*. bchirc tie* wafer run; into fGreek Oii'l t_.!.** 'i-riarin. 'I he <nt* is in $c;ir- iww'r. Mr. Sj.m-r ;:,M tual !.e find .. . I >-* i nlim.fr f f come from pipes in the plant that- "there are differences of property early iu the morning, opinion" among scientists on but he saw none yesterday. Dr. whether ingested asbestos fibres Shulman a:.d Mr. Sonier filled are hazardous to health, and bottles from water entering the therefore there is no sure mea creek over a bed of. what ap surement of what i* considered peared to be broken and -en safe or dangerous. crusted pieces of pipe. "There Is some confusion in A Johrj-Manvillc spokesman the area--from the abatement said later that water flowing at point of view," he said. that point was from an under Inhaled asbestos fibres In the ground trr.Tch and "as far as we air have definitely been linked to know, is clean." cancer and other respiratory dis The Globe and Mail learned that the IZzislry of Environment took water samples from the same spot in 1973 or "early in 197-1'' and found it to contain 5.65 million asbestos fibres per litre. A ml-irtry spokesman de scribed the count as `'very innoc uous" ia spite oi uic "ii/gt loiihuin? number." He satd there were Iir::'h' olio lu Uvn rniiliaii fibres rcr l ire in drinking water. arid i[irr:':rc the Jolms-Manvilie couiil rms * n,jt oTiT ot fine.-' It was understood, alUtougit not confirmed, that no testing has been done by the provincial Gov ernment at the site since. Dr. Sir-*!man turned the sam eases. Seven Canadian JolmsWanvillc employees have dice and about SO arc under treat ment. The report or asbestos in th< company's -etfhwms was made from what another Govcrnmen environmentalist culled "gral samples." Such samples veu also taken in many of OnUru lakes and streams, he said. Two types of count are tnkci for each sample--the number i> fibres and their "mass". Tli mass--the total bulk--depends o the size and thickness of the mi cruscopic fibres. The Jolms-'ManvHlc reading t 5.C million jer litre had a mas of six one-thnusumKIis of a nm ples over to the mhustry yester rogrant per litre .lie raid. A nin day jnvrring, and Hicy were sent < rngram is onciniltiuutU of a gran lo the Crtario Research Feunda- This reading was compared wit licjj at .ST-'cruInu park tor ar.aiy- Thunder bay's IjjcIi J.oinand>is. wtnc*i will include a fibre IUG.1^3 fibres per litre (and fount employing an environ mi- mass of three onr-ilM'!i.r.nrtths r. ciV'H'ocr. a inicmcram). ll<r<i,'iim*-.f i:i\ TIi~ rmiH.* arc cxrmrlrd by rr. IVierNirnush's wai'T supH* J-'rift ty l.n t'i 2.S nntlmi*. and u'.l*ci i-rfiifslrv snukesman said vvilhiu that range. CAPCO JEN 0002791