Document mmKGdNY8a0nxvEOrYRNJmzzVO

/\ November 20, 1936. The Honorable, The Attorney General of tho United States. My dear Mr. Attorney General: Reference is made to your letter of November 12, 1936, requesting information vdth regard to the health regulations governing the sale of gasoline containing tetraethyl lead. It is my understanding that you desire this information for use in connection with^an investigation of the Ethyl Gasoline Corpora tion now being conducted by your Department.^ The Treasury Department wishes to extend its cooperation in this matter in every way possible. It Is believed, however, that there are several important factors which should bo given consideration before a full disclosure is made of all the Treasury Department records bearing on this case. Tbo Public Health Service has received complete cooperation from tho companies handling gasoline containing tetraethyl loud and this was secured with the understanding that we would keep confidential the information given. The interest of the Public Health Service has been a scientific one to obtain information look ing to the protection of the health of the handlers and users of Ethyl gasoline. Without such tin understanding it would have been impossible to have secured the information necessary to formulate regulations to protect tho public from this hasard, Based on the studies made, recommendations for the protection of the health of persons handling tetraethyl lead gasoline were mad by the Public Health Service and put into effect by the Ethyl Gasoline Corporation It is believed that if such confidential information is disclosed, the cooperation which the Public Health Service has heretofore received from industrial concerns will no longer be extended. Con sequently, such future scientific studies will be materially prejudiced by the lack of necessary factual information upon which to base recommendations for safeguarding workers and the public against various new toxic substances. P$ {?. 1 ,, ms -'v. . . . ; '; . . ;-- w,0 N A n ^ g The Attorney General of the United States - .2 I believe that we can give you all of the information which will be of use to your Department in conference with your representa tives.. Dr. Sayers or other Public Health Service officers familiar with this matter will hold themselves in readiness to cooperate fully in this way, / .Very truly yours, O'-' ' '',v'V|iSiloed) Visyno r> rfairioi Secretary of the Treasury. BBStCDW Ah?. . gt^/w c v #=1Up-