Document b59zoQMJOBzwxx20M5nL7Bmo3

FILE NAME: Asbestos Information Association (AIA) DATE: 1979 Jan 9 DOC#: AIA013 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Meeting Minutes - Executive Meeting Minutes Minutes Completed 23 Jan 3BEST0S INFORMATION ASSOCIATION . <*5 Jarlerson 0avi3 Highway, Crystal Square 4. Suita 509 Arlington, Virginia 22202 (703) 979*1150 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING Association Office January 9, 1979 Arlington, VA The meeting was convened at 9:00 AM in the Association Office, Arlington, Virginia. Present were: .Thomas A. Dougherty Guy G. Gabrielson, Jr. John H. Marsh H. B. Rhodes, Dr.Eng.Sc. Kurt Schwarz Edward. P.. Zacharias CertainTeed Coro.,' AIA/NA Pres. Nicolet, Inc. i^Saybestos-Manhattan, Inc.. Union Carbide Corporatipn Supradur Manufacturing Cor?. Molded Materials Co. j . Others: B. J. Pigg . Arthur Neilson Jane L. Halpern, M.D. AIA/NA Executive Director Neilson Associates Department of Labor Minutes The minutes of the previous meeting, December 12, 1973, were approved as submitted. Financial Report The financial statement for the period ending December 31, 1978, was reviewed. Total assets of $132,860 with liabilities of $46,828 resulted in net worth of $86,032. The statement was accepted on motion. Executive Director's Reoort OSHA - There has been no change in status of the RTIrCONSAD consolidated report since last meeting nor in those areas I J HM1Zi7z ered by Grover Virenn, OSKA director of health standards urograms, at the December 13, 1978, board meeting. An OSHA official has advised that the agency is developing a regulatory agenda pursuant to Executive Order 12044 of March 23, 1978. . The agenda will include an estimated date for rulemaking affecting asbestos, however, the official would not speculate on the date to be published. EPA - The Environmental Protection Agency's Priorities Committee, Office of Toxic Substances, was scheduled to review on December 8 a Phase I report on asbestos. The review was delayed until December 13. The meeting was not open to the public. It is understood that no decisions were reached to . propose further regulations. Rather, action taken was direc tion for OTS staff to rewrite a "Management Strategies Paper" on asbestos. This document, reportedly, would provide range . of options for possible in-depth assessment of asbestos, e.g. validation of fiber size and associated risk, documentation of sources, and further work on issue of asbestos and inges tion. Next meeting of Priorities Committee is expected to be rescheduled early in the new year. . ' t The meeting at Belmont House in Maryland to discuss a generic labeling standard, as previously reported, did transpire' last month. Representatives of government, industry labor and academia were present. An EPA spokesman has advised that .the consensus was: "it's a good idea, but difficult to implement." AIA/NA will receive for comment a draft proposal for a generic labeling standard when one has been prepared. CPSC - A revised interim statement of policy and procedure for classifying, evaluating and regulating carcinogens in consumer products was issued by CPSC in the Federal Register on December 28. Comments may be submitted until February 26, 1979. The F.R. notice has been forwarded to the Standards Advisory Committee. Dr. Rhodes reviewed the actions of the Chemical Specialties Manufacturers Association as pertains to this matter. ' HEN - Reference was made to HEN Secretary Califano's recent speech to American Cancer Society where he said the Federal' Government will work to develop "on an urgent basis" stan dards which take into account increased'risk to workers that smoking adds to industrial health hazards. A copy of the .NIOSH chapter to be included in the Surgeon General's report on smoking, scheduled for release on January 11, was provided in folders. statGS - Recent initiatives .by the states of .Kentucky and Virginia were described. Mr. Trachtman, AIA/NA staff, is attending a public hearing in Frankfurt, KY, today. M 1247 3 Page 3 Mr. Marsh reported on actions by the state of Connecticut regarding a State Implimentation Plan which includes a pro posed ambient standard for asbestos. R/M representatives ' are participating in hearings this week. Written comments are due by January 31. A discussion followed. It was agreed that Mr. Marsh would take the lead on this matter. Arrange ments for submission of testimony on behalf of AIA/NA by a non-industry expert on ambient monitoring may be oursued. i Dr. Rhodes reported on recent activities affecting the industry in California. . National Academy of Sciences - An initial meeting to discuss the recently approved study on asbestos by NAS has been scheduled for January 16. (Note: AIA/NA Memo of 1/18/79 provided details of this meeting.) Membership - The N u t u m Corporation, Nashville, Tennessee, a manufacturer of friction materials, has submitted an application for regular membership in AIA/NA. ' Miscellaneous - It was agreed that the Executive Director should attend a meeting of industry representatives on January 22-23, in Washington, D.C. / The next regular meeting of the Technical Committee is < scheduled for February 1 in Dallas, Texas (hosted by ` National Gypsum Co.). Minutes of last meeting, November 28,'. 1978, and announcement concerning next meeting were included in folders. ' - POL Research Project Contract Mr. Arthur Neilson, Neilson Associates, and Dr. Jane Halpern, Department of Labor, reviewed background of a study on compensation for occupational diseases that has been con tracted for by the Department of Labor. The firm of Neilson Associates is working on one phase of the study pertaining . to adequacy'of current Federal programs for preventing occupational respiratory diseases. . Purpose of visit was to explore possible ways that the Association might participate in providing medical and monitoring data which would be useful in this research project. It was explained that no data of this type is maintained by the AIA/NA office. Following discussion, it was agreed that Mr. Neilson would prepare and submit to the Executive Committee a draft paper outlining specific needs which would be considered for transmission to Association members. . J H M 12474 Page 4 As a related matter, a copy of the research plan for Dr. SelikoEf's study on disability and worker's compensation in asbestos-associated disease has been forwarded separately to Committee members. , AIA/NA Response Activities The HEW reply to the Association's response on the study, "Estimates of the Fraction of Cancer in the United States Related to Occupational Factors," and related matters were discussed. Dr. Rhodes referred to an alleged internal NCI memorandum on the Estimates Paper and a J-M response thereto. He suggested that AIA/NA obtain copies. (Note: AIA/NA I t r of January 17 to Dr. Weill refers.) Mr. Dougherty invited attention to counsel's comments on OSHA's role as described in a draft OSHA/NCI Asbestos Infor mation Plan. It was agreed that certain information should be requested from OSHA and NCI by counsel. -(Note: .Requests were initiated January 11.) Preparation for OSHA Public Hearing ^ ' ^ re Revision of Asbestos Standard . * 'i Mr. Dougherty referred to the directors meeting held Deqem-- ber 13 when this subject was discussed. Attendees w e r e , , advised that a letter would be forthcoming setting forth details and requesting members of the Association to formulate a position in order that AIA/NA might be in a position to ' react expeditiously and positively when new regulations are proposed by OSHA. . A draft letter, as prepared by Mr. Dougherty, was reviewed by the Committee and approved with minor editorial changes. The Executive Director was requested to clear the letter through counsel. (Note: Letter to AIA/NA members was mailed January 17.) , Legal Research Program Mr. Gabrielson said two memoranda dated January 8 had for warded to regular and associate members of the Legal Research Committee an expanded list of potential "state-of-the-medical art" expert witnesses prepared by special counsel, and to regular members only a report from special counsel on the West Coast trip by Ms. Carey Gross to interview possible expert medical witnesses, and another report on the extent of current use of the data bank. In regard to use of the data bank, Mr. Gabrielson said he would communicate with special counsel about specifics that ; . 3.H M 12475 Page 5 '/ouid be useful in reaching a decision at the March directors meeting as to continuation of AIA/NA bearing the cost of maintaining the data bank. Qbher Committee Reports Standards Advisory - Dr. Rhodes supplemented information which was presented earlier on state activities, to include Maryland and California. He referred to a draft proposal on asbestos that had been received from the Province of Alberta. Comments are due by March 12. (Note: An initial response was prepared January 18 which forwarded AIA/NA's reply to O S H A 's proposed . revision to the asbestos standard (manufacturing).) Dr. Rhodes said a number of companies have requested and received an extension of time period for submission of a petition for reconsideration regarding DOT'S recently promulgated regulation for transportation of asbestos. The reasons for these petitions were reviewed. , Air Monitoring - Dr. Rhodes said this committee met January 8. Some difficulties have occurred in the computer program which are being worked on. Additional areas have been developed ' which will be included in the analysis of this project. Dr. Rhodes said the effort is proceeding well. ' . , Dr. Rhodes said he and Dr. Chase plan to attend the next meeting of the AIA Dust Measurement Advisory Panel in Manchester, England, the. third week of February 1979. The international dust reference method proposal will be the topic of consider ation. He said the interest of the U.S. federal agencies has been encouraging. International/Medical Affairs - Mr. Marsh said Dr. Enterline's editorial based on nxs research of medical linerature for the AIA/NA had been published by the "American Review of Respi ratory Disease." Copies were distributed. A report prepared by Alex Cross on the International Conference on Pneumoconissis held at Caracas, Venezuela, October 28 - November 30, 1978, was also provided to the Committee. Mr. Marsh also reported on pngoing activities of the international .association. v Other Business The Committee approved an increase in the annual salary of Mr. Richard Trachtman, AIA/NA staff, from $13,500 to $19,500 effective February 1, 1979. The next regular meeting of the Committee will be held February 13, 1979, in the Association office. Page 6 Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:20 PM. * Executive Director 23 January 1979 bjp/cn JHM 12477