Document Vjqbx0abOGpxO1qX3MRkR88mN

<mm> E. I. du Pont oe Nemours & Company Wilmington. Delaware 19898 CNOINSCNINa OCPARTMCNT PERSONAL CONFIDENTIAL February 26, 1981 cc: * G.F. Moore-TF-Nemours R.L. Rhodea-TF-Neraours E.H. Bennett-TF-Chettanooga W.D. Merriss-TF-Chattanooga H F -Swink-TF-Chattanooga A. Jacoba-TF-Chattanooga B. Latta-TF-Chattanooga F.H. Hixson-TF-Chattanooga W.H. Webb-TF-Chattanooga A.E. Ostrand-EiM-Louviers J.V. Anderson-Constr-Louviera H.A. MoaJc-Design-Louviers T.W. Gibbs-ESD-Louviers F.A. Hoagey-ESD-Louviers J.R. Allen-ESD-Louviars _ IC 13-Materials Engg. " IC 13-METIS J. A. OWEN * TEXTILE FIBERS DEPARTMENT CHATTANOOGA PLAN? TEXTILE FIBERS DEPARTMENT - CHATTANOOGA ' MATERIALS ENGINEERING - POWER AND PROCESS THERMAL INSULATION PHASE I OF PROGRAM FOR THE REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF ALL ASBESTOS - BEARING THERMAL INSULATION At your request, J. V. Anderson, Engineering Construction Division, Planning Section, and 1 visited the Chattanooga plant on January 12, 1981. The purpose of the visit was to establish, as accurately as possible, the magnitude of a contractural program to remove and replace all asbestos-bearing tbaraal Insulation materials on. the entire Chattanooga plant. For that purpose, we were accompanied by officials of the Starr Davis Co., Inc., of Greenboro, NC, a very reliable thermal insulation contractor capable of the proposed project. Starr Davis Co. was re commended by me and A. H. Ostrend, Energy and Materials Department. The Starr Davis people veret J. T. Hunter, Chari man of the Board, C. McDaniel, Manager of the Atlanta office and M. J. Ball, Vice President - Contracting. As a result.of a very thorough but rapid tour by you and W. H. Webb, of all major areas of the Chattanooga site, Starr Davis presents their estimate of the cost, time period to accomplish, and con tingencies involved, a copy of which is attached. - Z have also contacted the Engineering Department's Business Methods and Investment Division which provided the following data: Based on comparative plant values in the Textile Fibers Department, the estimated value for installed .thermal insulation at Chattanooga is approximately S30W4. This represents approximately 10.MM board feet of thermal insulation in place. ~~I believs this data substantiates Starr-OTVis' estimate to remove and replace. ./ DUP 0906197 SC-DP-06805 2 February 26, 19B1 or. A. Owen __ 7 ' It should be understood by persons not intimately familiar with the Chattanooga plant and its very luge amount of installed insulation, that this is a project of tremendous magnitude as evidenced by the realistically estimated cost and time period to accomplish. NO such comprehensive asbestos-bearing material removal program has been initiated at any other Du Pont site of any reasonable size. My exposure to the national insulation picture has not brought to my attention any other company tackling such a program. I believe the huge cost and'unavoidable production disruptions make such a program unjustifiable under today * s governmental regulations. If the subject project is undertaken, it should be understood that presently experienced maintenance will not be eliminated or delayed. There will be a measurable increase in maintenance costs because the asbestos-free materials presently on the market are physically inferior to their asbestos-bearing predecessors.- I do not believe that a concerted asbestos removal program would create any greater total asbestos exposure hazard than a very long term repair and patch policy of asbestos bearing insulation in place. There is always the potential for accidental asbestos exposure not associated with an insulation program while asbestos is remaining on the plant. Chattanooga's continued compliance with all present governmental regulations regarding- the handling of asbestos-bearing materials should, not incur any sizeable increases in cose, since your procedures have been. in. motion for some time. If X can- be of any assistance in the- future, please contact me on Louviers Building phone 366-3435. ENGINEERING SERVICE DIVISION G. E. Lang/ Cogpultant Materials Engineering Group GEL:lad Atch DUP 0906198