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ALR/inr C CLARK ."i r'PrsiDE.NT ' mmul cmtuoR MANUFACTURING CHEMISTS ASSOCIATION 162b CONNECTICUT AVENUE, N W WASHINGTON, D, C 20009 (202) 483-6126 , February 28, 1974 Mr. Robert E. Rutherford Gulf Oil Corporation Medical Department Gulf Building Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15230 Subject: Vinyl Chloride Research Program Dear Mr. Rutherford: Currently, the Manufacturing Chemists Association is administering an investigative program concerning the poten tial carcinogenicity of vinyl chloride, financially supported by contributions from twenty manufacturers of vinyl chloride and/or polyvinyl chloride. In view of recent developments, several additional companies have expressed interest, your company being among them. Herewith is a description of the current program of animal exposure and epidemiological studies and the terms under which it is administered by MCA. Additional studies totalling $80,000 have been proposed. New participants will be expected to comply with the following terms: (a) To provide equitable cost sharing, initial contri butions by companies joining the program at this time would be on the same basis as those made by present participants (currently $24.38 per million pounds of annual VC plus PVC production capacity), future installments to be prorated among all companies then participating on the basis of published production capacities. (b) Participation would be contingent upon an expres sion of intent to support such expanded programs of research and investigation as may be approved, with the understanding that an additional $500,000 may be involved over the next three years. (c) Applicants would be required to subscribe to confidentiality agreements then in effect, and to agree to CUSAROSS 0204 2- - suc'n rules of conduct concerning dissemination of project information and research results as may then govern the Association's relationship with members of the group. (d) Applicants must agree to cooperate with epidemi ological studies undertaken, including the release (under appropriate guarantees of anonymity) of pertinent personnel data . (e) Each participant under these terms would be en titled to management and technical representation and would be expected to make personnel available to a degree that constitutes an equitable sharing of responsibilities. Your company would be welcome to participate on the terms indicated. Participation is not restricted to MCA mem ber companies. Enclosed are two copies of a reply sheet for commitment of funds, one signed copy of which is for return and the other for retention. As the basis for estimation of your proportion ate share, the public records so far available to us indicate tlie production capacity for vinyl chloride monomer plus poly vinyl chloride (combined) approaches 10,000 million pounds a year. Tn setting any commitment limit, please bear in mind that substantially less than this total is likely to be repre sented in the subscriptions made. To facilitate planning and invoicing, taking into account proposed future studies, a reply by March 20, 1974, would be appreciated. If your company decides not to partici pate, please indicate with equal promptness so our planning can proceed. Sincerely, ACC:tp no 1osur es CUSAROSS 02046 DESCRIPTION MCA Administered Research Program* on Carcinogenic Potential of Vinyl Chloride PURPOSE The purpose of this program, collectively funded by voluntary subscriptions from interested companies, is to pro vide technical information to clarify the status of vinyl chloride (monomer) in reference to carcinogenicity. CURRENT PROJECTS Projects now in progress are as follows: Animal Exposure Study - (Industrial BIO-TEST Laboratories) $180,000 Epidemiological Study (Tabershaw-Cooper Associates) - 93,340 SUPERVISION $273,340 This program is supervised on MCA's behalf by a Techni cal Task Group composed of one technical representative from each subscribing company plus an assigned MCA staff represen tative, who serves as secretary. FUNDING In accord with preference expressed by representatives of companies taking part in the program, subscribing companies share in financial support approximately in proportion to their share of total-tonnage production capacity (vinyl chlor ide monomer plus polyvinyl chloride) so represented, based on publicly available figures. For good reason, exceptions may be made by common consent. Consistent with prior commitments by subscribing companies, support funds are subject to advance collection by MCA but CUSAROSS 02047 2- - 1V scheduled when deemed appropriate for long 'd oK.'ji't'ls. Disbursements would be subject to MCA staff and approval. ' ` . r fATJONy f'tf scientific information developed from this program lit.' felly disclosed, without restriction. For purposes (ji.;;. stency and control, however, all releases would be "'dr: solely through MCA, normally based on Task Group rec oinin'. mint i ons as to nature and timing. This requirement would n;ii : `i ni (jde private scientific interchange of non-competitive i o; mat i on useful to advancement of the program, nor relevant ptivato communication within and among subscribing companies. !i would be an obligation to inform the MCA staff representa< : ,,!* about all such related interchanges and communications o> hoi than those internal to the company. (dytf ATI_ON The Task Group would be governed by the requirements of MCA's "General Principles Applicable to the Structure and Operations of Committees." MCA - 2/25/74 CUSAROSS 02048 Vinyl Chloride Research Program -p.-my hereby pledges its prorata share for sunporc o suhioci r i,: r.nn i n accord with the Description dated February 2S, i<?7't, ;'! i no understanding that our share will be based on our production, f.ii'-soiy for vinyl chloride monomer plus polyvinyl chloride ot * million pounds a year, this commitment being limited ! i minimum of S. '-Publicly disclosed figure Utir representative on the Technical Task Group having surveillance over i.t will be: Name (typed) Title |_______________________________________________ Company Mailing address __ Phone: Area Code Number ___ Extension While appreciating the opportunity presented, my company has decided not to participate in the program. Name (signed) Name (typed) Title ______________________________________________ Company _____________________________________________ Address _________________________ __________ _ Phone: Area Code ______ Number ___ Extension rijoaso return one signed copy by March 20. A. C. Clark Manufacturing Chemists Association I82ri Connecticut Avenue, N. W, Wash invton, D. C. 20009 1974 to: Date CUSAROSS 02049 Vinyl Chloride Research Program My company hereby pledges its prorata share for support of subject program in accord with the Description dated February 25, 1974, with the understanding that our share will be based on our production capacity for vinyl chloride monomer plus polyvinyl chloride of * million pounds a year, this commitment being limited to a maximum of $ *Publicly disclosed figure Our representative on the Technical Task Group having surveillance over it will be: Name (typed) Title Company ____________________________ ______________ Mailing address Phone: Area Code _____ Number __ Extension While appreciating the opportunity presented, my company has decided not to participate in the program. Name (signed) Name (typed) __________ ___________ __ Title Company Address Phone: Area Code Number Extension _________ irmvni-d c 'pv by March 20, t i, i r i i>'1 i i 'v < !nt.i ! s i s Assoc i at. i on r i.i : :< ut A's.'iiiu-, !'. W. >1.1 , . I Mil),HI 1974 to: Date CUSAROSS 02050