Document mqKQ7pN8zbZdD9mMpYgo1VOyk

Monsanto `"'"""Jack T. Garrett. Medical Department August 26, 1969 cc Elmer P. Wheeler On Wednesday, August 20, B. T. Dean of^Rensacola called and told me that the following morning at 9:00 a.m. Wayne Tisedale and Don Brown of the two pollution con trol agencies of Florida wanted to talk to him about the Aroclor 129^ problem with shrimp being investigated by Drs. Hopkins and Dukes. Dr. Hopkins is the head of the Biology Department of Western Florida University and Dr. Dukes is a Research Biologist with the U. S. Department of Interiors, Bureau of Commercial Fish eries . Dean wanted to know what to reveal to these two offi cials. At the same time Dean told me that the in-bay shrimp season had recently opened in the Escambia Bay. Newspapers had noted that there was virtually no Bhrimp being caught and the largest catch caught to date was five pounds. Dean had apparently talked to you briefly Just before he talked to me. I contacted John Spano of Public Relations and filled him in and he told me to inform Tom Ford who was hand- ling the problem. Mr. Ford would consult with Sterling Turner and thiB was subsequently done. I tried to contact Bill Richards of the Organic Division and found he was in Howard Bergen's office. I tried to contact Mr. Bergen and his phone was constantly busy TRAN 025673 HARTOLDMONOQ25538 Elmer p. Wheeler August 26, 1969 Page`Two so I went to his office and discussed the problem with him and Bill Richards. We subsequently came to my office along with Mr. Ford and the Public Relations St. Louis representative from the Textiles Division. There was eventually in the meeting Mr. Bergen, Mr. Richards, Mr. Sprlngate, and Mr. Hodges, all of the Organic Division, Mr. Ford, and the Textiles representa tive from the Public Relations Department, and for awhile Mr. Spano, We called Mr. Dean and Mr. O'Leary several times to settle on what general approach Dean and Turner should make to the state agencies and what answers they would give to specific questions. We composed the following questions and answers: 1. The general approach should be our continuous cooperation with these agencies and to answer their questions but not offer a great deal of information or comment. 2. ABk the two gentlemen what specifically they want. 3. If they ask the question, "what is the material?", our answer should be that "we are told it is Aroclor 125^. We have not confirmed this. We have at present samples and we will Inform you when we get results". If they ask the question, "do you use this material in your plant?", the answer should be "yes, in very minor quantities as a lubricant. 11 5. If they ask the question, "how much do you use?", the answer should be "one to four gallons a day at most". 6. If they ask the question, "have you stopped using it?", answer "yes". 7. If they ask the question, "are you putting it in your deep well?", answer "no". 8. If they ask the question, "does this material biodegrade?", answer that "we have studies under-, way to determine this". ' 9. If they ask the question, "how long have you been using this material?", answer "since 1966". 10. If they ask the question, "do you know any other sources in the Escampia River or Pensacola Bay?", answer that "we do not know". TRAN 025674 1> 4 HARTOLDMON0025539 Elmer P. Wheeler August 26, 1969 Page Three On Thursday morning the 21st, Mr. Turner and Mr. Dean met with the two state authorities and answered their questions with no difficulty. The meeting was amiable and the state authorities thanked Monsanto for its cooperation. They, in fact, asked no particularly embarrassing questions. Mr. Brown did bring up an interesting point, however. He stated that Dr. Duke told him that on August 16 he took a bottom mud sample one-fourth mile below our plant outfall and analyzed it for PCB. The analysis showed 435 ppm of Aroclor 1254. JTG: Ju TRAN 025675 HARTOLDMON0025540