Document YrkJ1D2y5mX9L8GYaJ0bG0RGy

February 22, 1972 Nr. John H. Blah Preaidant Oardan Stata paper Company, Ino. 9BSTTIWP DPlvd----------------------Oerfleld, Maw Jaraay 07026 Dear Nr. Rlohi I waa informed by Nonaanto'a Hr. Phil Slayton of your lntereat In the Industrial ohealoals known aa polyahlorlnatad blphanyla (PCB'a). ----------------------------- With the Increasing evidence that polychlorinated blphanyla were being Identified In the environment and way be having aoae effect on some speclea of wildlife, about two yeara ago Monsanto began a program whloh we believe will reduce slgnlfleantly the chances of PCB'a escaping Into the environment. Because the PCB problem la oomplex the program of voluntary withdrawal was executed In a stepwise fashion with thoae appli cations in whloh oontrol of escape waa practically Impossible being the first to be discontinued. We have now reached that stage In whloh sales of PCB's are severely restricted to closed dleleetrlo applications for which a commercially available fire-resistant alternative fluid la ^not available. We have carried out an extreswly detailed research program aimed at developing alternatives to PCB's and also modifying the PCB'a to Improve their degree of biodegradation In waate treatment facilities. Our aim here is not to develop PCB'a which can be allowed to escape Into the environment bet rather to produce It so that. In oaae of sceldental spillage. It will be capable of being contained and degraded In waate treatment facilities. MONS 094385