Document jg5JpLqwbdyjG1L9z976GB2aN

201 East 42nd Street New York, N.Y. 10017 (212) 697-5600 April 6, 1971 TO s BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AIA/NA CCt ADMINISTRATIVE SUB-COMMITTEE, AIA/NA TELEGRAPHING THE FEDERAL PROTECTION ADMINISTRATION Attached is a copy of the news release issued on March 31 by the subject agency, in which as you will see, some rather unfair and extreme statements are made concerning alleged, asbestos hazards. ' At a meeting of the Administrative Sub-Committee, yesterday, which was attended by Chairman Harold McNabb, it was decided to take the following steps to counter this development: 1. To ask each member company to send a telegram to Mr. Ruckelshaus, protesting the news release issued by his department* Suggested copy for such a telegram is attached. The wording has been changed for each company, so as not to give the appearance of a "form letter" approach. 2* We will seek, as the AIA/NA, to obtain an appoint ment to see Mr. Ruckelshaus and discuss the areas of error in the afore-mentioned news release and offer to assist his department in setting the . facts straight. Hopefully, our delegation will include, in addition to Harold McNabb and myself, a top medical expert and someone like Fred Pundsack who has a great deal of background on asbestos research. If you agree with this approach, I would appreciate It if you would send a telegram along the lines su,9**ced in the attached draft, to Mr. Ruckelshaus as soon as possible. Please send me a blind carbon copy of the wire. William P. Raines Secretajyon*ord t>y CartaaMfd Products Cor*, FHntkota Co. GAP Cor*. Jolwts-UanviHo Cor*, Nation*! Gypsum Co* Panscon Cor*, RaybestOfrManftattsn. In*, and Woodward Cor*, and epQfitia9 from HW and Knownen. In*, PuMte Relation* Counsel 01-0218217 **T / / / -^ rr /:f: /** / v w /a X* " * ' i>'9 *y r f* *; / / .' 'I* .' *" <" r/' V S * o K< ?v fc H T A L PROTECTION A C E N C Y , W A S HiK'(?TCNJ. D. C. o e. . ' HR. BLISS (202) (Home) (301) * *5R. H0LKE3 (301) (Home) . (301) 632-7692 400-9014 443-1077 093-043$ FOR AT 6:30 A.M. HARCh 31, 1971 :m>*ARC0l*S-?07jLHTAiiT LIST PROPOSED` V7i.lli.am. x>. Ruckelshaus. Administrator or the Environmental . Protection Agency, today named three hazardous air pollutant* for which he will set national* standards in the next few months, . \ , The hazardous pollutants -- those to which even slight exposure may contribute to death or.scriou3 illness -- were identified in the Federal Register today as asbestos, beryllium, and mercury. They* are. the first to be identified under^the * * 1&70 clean Air Amendments. * it . * b . ` In proposing to list these three contaminants, .nuch&lshsus said, "Listing these contaminants, as hazardous under the 1970 cle^n Air Amendments does not mean that current levels in the ** "e air are dangerous. It means that even exposure to nr&sto6, I ` Mercury* and beryllium may threaten human health* and vc imi*t carefully control n'-.y release of those oubse^nwes to stv? / bt'&JL'i ' _. 01-0218218 2. environment.** * Under the Clean Air Tunendments, listing a substance as a hazardous air pollutant calls for EPA to prepose National emission standards for new and existing sources of the hazardous pollutants- After hearings the standards will be promulgated. Standards are to be set within one year of publication of .'the list. . ' Ruchelshaus stated that other pollutants will be added tc the* list if further assessment shows that they are * "hazardous" within the meaning of the Act. # ## 01-0218219 *