Document mBN0B9Dma1O42z24aZk3n8wKk

CONROE, TEX. COURIER D. 8,537 -- S. 9,469 HOUSTON METROPOUtAN AREA . 2! I'-'e. Company disputes column To the editor: The June 12, 1978, Issue of the Mon tgomery County Courier contained an article entitled, "Jobs at Stake," by Washington correspondents Martha Angie and Robert Walters. That article took exception to the Monsanto com munications program' designed ' to create a more balanced perspective of chemicals among the American public. As a Monsanto employee familiar with this program, I am concerned at the article's lack of objectivity and misrepresentation of the program's objectives. Called the "Chemical Pacts of Life,** Monsanto's diverse communications program was not conceived to restrict communicatons or gloss over chemical problems. What it is Intended to do is instill a better understanding of both the risks and benefits of chemical use and to facilitate discussions between cilizensand Monsanto. Monsanto's program does Involve the use of advertising to tell part of our message. Another element of the program is a speakers' bureau com posed of company employees throughout the United Slates. These speakers, appearing before various local groups, have discussed a wide range of topics relating to the role of chemicals in our society. Other elements of the program include a series of Chemical Facts Bulletins and a -`Chemical Facts of Life" booklet exploring In detail public concerns over chemicals. A copy of the CFOL booklet is attached lor your review. Mentioned in the article were polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and Monsanto's alleged hesitancy to discuss this subject in Its CFOL program. Contrary to the article's allegations, Monsanto is and has been very con cerned about the environmental problems posed by PCBs and, 1 submit, the company's concerned posture in trying to deal responsibly with this very difficult risk-benefit subject of PCBs in greater detail, please feel free to contact me in St. Louis at (314) 894-2889. Monsanto is totally committed to operating In a socially responsible manner. Wc also care about the public's perception of our operations. As such, we believe strongly that we have a right and, indeed, an obligation to present the risk-benefit discussion of chemicals in a clear and reasoned manner. Gary Barton v 0501653 STLCOPCB4044817