Document pBBK2a9b02GeGd8nryyen6j0a

Monsanto FROM (name-location-phone) Kevin S. Cahill G4WD 4-3410 DATE: SUBJ: REF: TO: October 30, 1991 Transfers to POTWs Media Coverage cc: L. J. 0'Neill - G4WA L. W. Wassell - G4WF D. G. Bartolanzo - A2SP G. F. Fort - G4WT T. H. Lafferre - G4NJ V. T. Matteucci - G5NR C. F. Navarrete - G5NA R. G. Potter - G4NH D. B. Price, Jr. - G5NV D. L. Sliney - G4NJ M. W. Winkel - G5NA Attached please find transcripts from local television coverage and articles which appeared in the Post-Dispatch regarding a press conference on TRI data involving discharges to POTWs. The Krummrich and Queeny plants were cited as being in the top ten of dischargers to POTWs. Stories aired on Channel 2, 4, and 5., and articles appeared in the Post-Dispatch and the Belleville News-Democrat. We also responded to several papers outside of the St. Louis ~ area including Columbia, MO and Rockford, IL. MCC's 70% reduction program was mentioned in the Channel 4 report, and none of the reports were significantly biased toward the USPIRG position. We do not anticipate further coverage on this issue. DSW 136175 STLCOPCB4036143 3146946572 MONSANTO CORP COMM F-046 T-314 P-003 OCT 29 '91 15:01 BROADCAST INFORMATION SERVICES, INC. NEW YORK PHILADELPHIA jr. Louis DENvei 7aaa Big Bend 0ciAvd, 5t Louis, Missouri 63119 (314) SB 1-4113 CLIENT! Monsanto Company PROGRAM! NewsChannel 5 DATE: 10/28/91 STATION! KSDK Ch. S TIME: 6:00 P.M. CITY: St, Louis _ RICK EDLUND: "Is St Louis' sewar system overloaded with toxic chemicals? According to a new study the metro area leads the nation in sewer pollution. DEANNE LANE! "A report released today puts St. Louis, St. Louis County and St. Clair County in Illinois in the top ten in chemical releases." EOLUND: "NewsChannel 5`s Jeff Fowler joins us now with the details." JEFF FOWLER: "St. Louis County led the nation with over 53 million pounds of chemicals going into its public sewer system but officials say it is not a health threat, "At a news conference in Washington this morning the U-S. Public Information Research Group released the results of the nationwide study." TOM REGAN (Missouri, PIRG): "St. Louis county and city is by far the worst in the nation when it comes to companies dumping raw poison right into the sewer system." FOWLER: "Of the more than 53 million pounds of chemicals released in St. Louis County, most of it, 52 million pounds of ammonium sulfate came from this one company, Columbian Chemicals of South County. "But sewer district officials say it is not an environmental threat." BERNARD RAINS (MSD): "It is not causing any interference with our treatment process and it's not passing,through our treatment facility causing any toxicity problem in the Mississippi River." FOWLER: "All chemical discharges are treated so that they meet state standards and ammonium sulfate is not considered to be extremely toxic. itariaf supplied Dy BIS, Inc may be used tor me and reference purposes only. It may not be reproduced, sold cr pitofidy demonstrated w exhibited. atov* transact has boen oditod tor roadability rWnirtattnfl rt*tul hedtations. UrwrtebSe phrases are enclosed to pflrentnww. Proper names > rpritnd phonetbaBy. I9B5, BJ5, Inc. S* 1361?6 STLCOPCB4036144 3146946572 MONSANTO CORP COMM F-046 T-314 P-002 OCT 29 '91 15:00 BROADCAST INFORMATION SERVICES, INC. NEW YOR"K PtflLAPB-PMA' St LOUIS DENVER 7838 Bm BkJ BoUavard. St Louis, Missouri 63119 (314)981-4113 KSOK Ch. 5 7 0/28/91 6;00 P.M, pagtt 2 "But according to the report many of the chemicals being released are very toxic, some are known carcinogens. But M3D officials say they are not being released ;n ouanities that would harm the public's health. "The report says four of the top ten toxic dischargers sewers come from the St.'Louis area. In addition to Columbian Chemicals* Monsanto's Sauget plant is number four on the list, Msllinckrodt with 9.6 million pounds is number eight and Monsanto's St. Louis plant is number nine. to "Monsanto says it is actively reducing the amount of chemicals it is releasing but U.S, PIRG officials say most companies aren't acting fast enough." ROB STUART (U.B. PIRG): "In the long term the only way we're going to truly reduce the risk associated with toxic chemicals is to reduce their use." FOWLER! "Now Columbian Chemicals is headquartered in Atlanta, officials there say there is no public exposure to what they release and therefore they say no health threat." ten* inU bv B4S. he nw be wed for fite and retertnc* purpose* only. 8 nrny not be reproduced, sott or purely PenwsWed or n*owirw* Mebeen effltod lor ruadabllty eertnathg VBrtxK hoatawra, Urxrtdhg**c pfrerca *cenclosede perentherw, Proper names ^6 S--pCHH-B-1tl 1985,6*8, he. DSW 136177 STLCOPCB4036145 3146946572 MONSANTO CORP COMM F-046 T-314 P-005 CT 29 '91 15:01 BROADCAST INFORMATION SERVICES, INC. NEW YORK PWLAOELm* ST. LOUl$ DENVBl 7830 Big Band BCutaned, St Louis, Mesourf 63119 (314)961-4113 CLIENT: Metropolitan Sewer District PROGRAM: News 4 St, Louis OATE: 10/28/91 STATION! KMOV Ch. 4 TIME: 10:0G P.M. CITY: St. Louis LARRY CONNERS: "There's a shocking new report which says U, S. companies dumped more than half a billion tons of toxic chemicals into sewers in 1989. That report says some of the worse polluters are right here in St. Louis. Nightside's Jonathan Hall reports." JONATHAN HALL: "The U. S. Public Interest Research Group studied chemical discharge reports for 1983, which have just been released by the EPA. U.S. PXR6 says we all have reason to be concerned." ROB 8TUART (U.S. PIRG Environmental Advocate): "Son* of these substances carried serious health risks. Seventy-nine million pounds of (triogodents), those are substances which cause birth defects: 55 million of reproductive toxins and another 4 million of substances which are known are suspected carcinogens." HALL: "MoPlRG, tnis state's student run public interest * research group says we don't have to look far to find the worst offenders." LAURA BARRETT (MoPIRG Executive Director): "Four out of the ten most prominent polluters in the country were found to be here in Missouri in the St. Louis area. These kinds of things do not need to be happening, there are substitutes available." HALL: "In terms of volume the worse discharges in the country happened at the Columbian Chemicals plant in south St. Louis County. The Mallinckrodt and Monsanto plants in St. Louis and the Monsanto plant in Sauget also have the dubious distinction of making that top ten list. "A Monsanto spokesman told me, quote, we have a very aggressive waste reduction program in place, our target is to -reduce releases of ha2ardous chemicals 70 percent by the end of 1995. "The chemical companies say the toxic they release into the sewers are not a public health threat because they are treated before being released into the water supply, however, bttrim nppf**" by BIS, Inc. may be used fee Me mi reference purposes only. It may no! be n^nxijcod, sold or pUbfidy demonstrated or extdxted. ho above transcript he* been edited tor readability eliminating verbal hesitations. LWnteUglble pmnt me andosed n parentheses. Proper names * spelled phonetically. 1385, BIS, Inc. DSW 136178 STLCOPCB4036146 3146946572 MONSANTO CORP COMM F-046 T-314 P-004 OCT 29 '91 15:01 BROADCAST INFORMATION SERVICES, INC. NEW YORK PHILADELPHIA ST LOWS DENVER 7939 Big Bend Boulevard, SI Louie, Mtesourt 63119 (314) 981-4113 KMOV Qh. 4 1D/Z8/91 70JOG P.M, p3ge 2 MoPIRS says it's impossible to purge these chemicals from the water." BRIGGS: "There is no problem then with the public drinking supply or in the quality of water released into the Mississippi because they're meeting federal and state clean water standards." HALL: "You're able to get the chemicals out?" BRIGGS: "We're able to get the chemicals out. Correct." HALL: "The worst polluter on the list, the Columbian Chemicals plant in south St. Louis County dumps 52 million tons of ammonium sulfate into the sewer every year but it*s all legal and Terry Briggs says the EPA may take ammonium sulfate off of its list of dangerous chemicals which must be reported, so there you go. Who do you believe and which chemicals are bad, which are good. It's difficult for the consumer to know what to think." CONNERS: "Did Briggs say why the EPA would take that off the list?" HALL: "It's just once in a while they go through the chemicals and decide which ones are tougher, of course, MoPIRG says they should be putting more chemicals on." - DSW l361" nan* anted hy SB. Inc. my be toed for file and reference purposes only. R may not he reproduced. m*i or pittWy HmwmsMtador MUtiM o abort, Wmnpt hM been Mr wiabiSty dmrarang verbal hesitations. OrumcifcpWe phrases are enclosed n parenthRses, Prop*- name* > apalkd [98S, BlS.mc- STLCOPCB4036147 County ranks second in toxic waste sewage b7mabilynvise News-Demscrat More than 61percent of tonic waste releases Into Dlifiois sewer systems occur In St. Clair County, ranking it second in the nation among counties and second only to st. Louis Connly, a new national study shows. The study, called "Toxic Trick or Treatment" was released by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group In Washington, D C., in an effort to build support (or new laws tightening allowable tootle releases. The city of St.Ixmisranksseventh on tbelist. The study was immediately attacked by chemical industry groups that said it is misleading. The UJ5L Environmental Protection Agency alsnwascriticaL The study ranks Illinois third highest nationally in the amount of toxic chemicals dumped into the states'sewage systems. According to the study: St Clair County industries are responsible for 62.9 percent al the state's toxicsewagerelease. Toxic sewage dumped in the county in 1989 totaled 36.8 million pounds. Cook County ranked 10th the nation in toxic sewer releases in 1989 with 25 percent of the state total or H.6 million pounds. St. Louis County released 69 percent of Missouri's toxic sewer wastes in 1989, or 53.1 million pouixts. St Louis City released 27 percent of Missouri's 1989 toxic sewer wastes at20.9miilioapounds. ' The report reviews information on See TOXIC/3A Wednesday, October30,1991 Belleville (ill.) News-Democrat O eO c* <0 <%A O 1 Toxic----- EPA under the federal Community ' treatmentsystem. Continued from 1A Right-to-Know law for discharges in "We have a commitment to reduce toxic releases into sewers and identifies the nation's top releasers and the community sewers receiving the greatest volume of toxics from industries required to report 1989. A similar study will be released next year using information filed in 1990, Stuartsaid Stuart said Monsanto in Sauget releases more chemicals that can releases of hazardous waste by 70 parent by 1995," Smith said. "The company has a definite and strong commitment to reduce hazardous waste." discharges. Monsanto's plant in Sauget is ranked fourth among the top 25 industries listed. This report was not released to cause cancer, birth defects and reproductive hazards into area sewage treatment centers than any othercompany in the county. Stuart said he hopes the study will help persuade Congress to require more enforcement through the Clean WaterArt. scare people," said Rob Stnart, a spokesman for the research group. "This is to underscore the need for- Congress to take action and address the toxicwaste problem." The Public Interest Research Group, foundedin 1971, is a consumer and environmental advocacy group. The toxic study was based on reports that manufacturers filed to the U.S. "Monsanto is a big offender," Stuart said. "Most of what is released in sewers is their stuff and it is a lol of stuff. Most sewage treatment plants arc not designed to treat toxics, so they are really just being released to the environment." Andi Smith, a spokesman lor Monsanto, said the company already hasreduced someofthetoxicreleases by installing a |25 million waste "Tighter controls are needed," Stnart said. "Congress needs to focus 00 working with companies to reduce toxicsinthe first place." Jeffrey Van, a spokesman for the Chemical Manufacturers Association, said the group was "distorting and misusing'' the EPA numbers, which are submitted annually by industry. Vuc VI the things they don't talk about is concentration or exposure," be said. "Tbe volumes we're talking about are incredibly diluted waste streams. In onr industry, 98 to 99 percent of tbe volume (of wastes into sewersystems) is water." EPA spokesman Sean McElbeny did not dispute the figures, but said the discharges are legal if the toxic chemicals are first treated by the industry. "Under the Clean Water Act, industrial facilities must pretreat their waste water effluence so that the toxic and hazardous chemicals don't pass through into surface waters and so they don't cause damage to the treatment facilities or harm workers," besaid. The Associated Press contributed tothisreport ~o CD ...................................$1S ..2?;..5502 .............................. 10-30-91 03:49PM FROMMONSANTO CHEM CORP STLCOPCB4036149 ST.lOUe POST-DISPATCH Copyright 1991 Rank Area Sewers Are Labeled Most Polluted By BUI Lambrecht Pot-Ditpatch Washington Buraau WASHINGTON -- A national study released on Monday says that more Industrial chemicals flow into sewers In the St. Louis area than sewers any where in the nation. In a study called "Toxic Trick or Treatment," the U.S. Public Interest Research Group argued that Indus tries ought to reduce their use of chemicals rather than flush them down the drain for publicly owned plants to treat. "When they dump these poisons Into the sewers, It Is an act of violence against people," said Tom Regan, who represented the Missouri Public Inter est Research Group at a news confer ence to release the report. The Public Interest Research Group, founded in 1971, is a consumer and environmental advocacy organi zation that says it has one million members. The study released Monday is based on reports that manufactur ers filed under the federal Communi ty Right-to-Know law for discharges in 1989. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29. 1991 The report rates St. Louis County sewers first and St. Clair County in Illinois second among counties in the volume of chemicals they handle from industry. The city of St. Louis ranked seventh on the list. Among other rankings, Missouri led all states In the amount of chemicals reaching Its sewers with a total of 76.5 million pounds. Also, five of the top ten manufacturers ranked by the vol ume of their chemical discharges were In the St. Louis area. Rob Stuart, a spokesman for the public interest group, said that his or ganization hoped to persuade Con gress to require more enforcement under Clean Water legislation and more reporting under the Right-toKnow law. The rankings were heavily influ enced by releases of one chemical, ammonium sulfate, which is used In the production of fertilizers and other products. By most accounts, ammoni um sulfate is only mildly hazardous. Mary Ellen Weber, of the U.S. Envi ronmental Protection Agency's toxic substances office, said that her divi sion was considering a petition from Industry to exclude ammonium sul fate from the chemicals that must be reported. But as it stands, Weber said, ammo nium sulfate remains among the 300 chemicals covered in the Right-to- Know law. Studies have shown that ammonium sulfate can burn human skin and kills fish exposed over a long lime, said Geoff Lomax. He is a scientist at the Washington-based National Environ mental Law Center. The law center co-wrote the report. Two of Monsanto Co.'s plants -- one in Cahokia and one in St. Louis -- ranked among the top ten in release of the chemicals. Diane G. Bariolanzo, a spokeswom an for Monsanto, said that chemicals released by the plants posed little dan ger. At its Krummerich plant in Illi nois, Monsanto already has reduced discharge of some of the chemicals in accordance with a companywide pro gram to minimize the release of toxic materials, she said. Production changes also have re duced discharges at Monsanto's Queeny plant at 1700 South Second Street In St. Louis, Bariolanzo said. "If they're trying to scare people about these amounts of chemicals go ing into the environment, it's not true, because these chemicals go to [sew age] treatment facilities before they're released," she said. The Columbian Chemicals Co. plant In Lemay led the national list of facili ties that discharge toxic wastes. The company was reported to have dumped 52 million pounds of ammoni um sulfate in 1989. "Fifty-two million pounds sounds like a lot, but you have to look at the details of the material," said Bernard Rains, director of environmental com pliance for the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District. Ammonium sulfate has a "low toxic ity," Rains said. The compound's toxic component -- ammonia -- amounts to about 13 million pounds of the 52 million. Columbia's discharge is treated at the Lemay sewage treatment plant and tested before being released into the Mississippi River, Rains said. "There is no indicated toxicity in Sewer Systems Handling The Most Industrial Chemicals COUNTY STATE TOXICS (LBS.) St. Louis Mo. 63,092,144 St. Clair III. 36,798,373 Los Angeles Calif. 36,493,176 Hopewell City Va. 33,542,843 Harris Texas 25,300,265 Essex , N.J. 22,411,332 St. Louis City Mo. 20,893,932 Hamilton Ohio 19,741,795 Shelby Tenn. 19,000,351 Cook III. 14,649,220 Middlesex N.J. 12,884,838 Brown WIs. 9,324,111 Passaic , N.J. 9,318,152 Philadelphia Pa. 8,621,052 , Bay Fla. 8,458,586 Bergen N.J. 8,292,159 Hampden Mass. 6,927,773 Union N.J. 6,766,260 Columbia Ore. 6,387,027 Gulf Fla. ` 6,095,470 Orange Calif. 5,335,657 Galvestpn Texas 4,505.151 Milwaukee Wis. 4,409,481 Marion Ind. 4,294,823 Erie Pa. 4,265,597 Source: 1989 EPA data Post Dispatch chart William Allen of Ihe Post-Dispatch staff contributed information for this story.