Document peeGXBdJNwxykLRnr6p91x5p7

f t fl Board Approves MCA's 1975-76 Budget continued trom page 1 package for plastics. This will be sup ported, as in the past, by the subscriptions of the member companies participating in the MCA Plastics Group, now numbering 56. Expenditures of $72,000 are forecast, requiring $60,000 of new income. The Board also heard reports from the Economic Policy Review, Transportation Equipment and International Trade Com mittees. In reviewing international economic trends, John Roorda of the Economic Pol icy Review Committee said there is no prospect for lower oil prices. Indeed, prices may go up, since several OPEC na tions are complaining about the decreas ing value of the dollar. Mr. Roorda reviewed the trial run of MCA's energy conservation reporting pro gram and said the program now will be extended to as many member companies as possible, with the next report due Sep*'-mber 1 at the Federal Energy Aammis- on and the Commerce Department. Mr Ronrdq nrod'rtpd that oil rtprnanrt would stay fairly level or grow slightly dur ing 1975, although adoption of new tariffs and excise taxes could cause as much as a five percent decline. The decline in U.S. natural gas produc tion is likely to continue for the next few years until price increases result in new onshore production or until increased offshore leasing programs bring in new finds, Mr. Roorda concluded. Changes Studied D. M. Long, chairman oi the Transporta tion Equipment Committee, reported that considerable attention was paid curing the year to proposed changes in the design, construction and use of transportation equipment, particularly tank cars. For some time, said Mr Long, the fed eral Railroad Administration has ceen con sidering the restriction or oroh'b t1 on of bot tom outlets on a!' tanx cars carrying hazardous materials. Tms wcj.o .moose a hardship on the cnemicai inoustry. Mr Long said, and the committee is waiting for lompletion of a study on such equiph,_nt before developing a recommended position for MCA The committee also is studying the pos sible effects if the Department of Transpor tation canceled authority for visual inspec tion as a means of requaiifymg tank tmcks for continued service, and if the depart ment established regulatory requirements for the inspection and retest of hose used to load and unload tank trucks, cars and barges. The committee continues to review pro posals concerning the Hazard Information system and the proposed consolidation of regulations for all transportation modes, Mr. Long said. Richard M. Brennan, chairman of the In ternational Trade Committee, told the Board that MCA's positions on the Trade Act of 1974 are reflected in the enacted legislation. These included the following: Tariff cuts are limited to 50 percent and elimination of duties are held to those of five percent or less, Congressional approval is needed to eliminate non-tariff barriers, Negotiation within sectors is assured when feasible, Provision is made to consider industry advice during negotiations without publicly divulging confidential information. The Department of Commerce and the Special Trade Representative have insti tuted an Industry Policy Advisory Commit tee and 26 Industry Sector Advisory Com mittees, Mr, Brennan said. There was a delay in starting the work of the sector ad visory committees, and their chairmen pro tested against the unrealistic programs fi nally scheduled for them. The International Trade Commission nas begun hearings across the country and trie Trade Policy Staff Committee will hold similar hearings shortly on the probable effects of imple menting the new trade legislation. Abs to Speak at Greenbrier contmueo from page i Annual Meeting, which will be held June 12-14 at The Greenbrier. White Sulphur SDrings. W Va. Six of North America's out standing chemistry teachers will be hon ored at the meeting, as will the member companies receiving the Lammot du Pont Safety Award for having made the greatest improvement in industrial safety during the past five years . The agenda for the business session June 12 will be maiied around May 23 to execut've contacts MCA Units to Review Cancer Group's Study MCA technical committees will be re viewing a new National Cancer Institute re port linking cancer and chemicals. The study, which has received press at tention, will be available in June. It con trasts cancer mortalities in 139 U.S. coun ties where the chemical industry is concen trated with cancer deaths in the rest of the nation. NCI researchers conclude that: In both sexes, the death rates for al cancers were slightly but significantly higher in the chemical industry counties. The increased risk of bladder anc nasal tumors among males and females in the 139 counties raises the possibility that occupational carcinogens may have es caped into the general environment. The study also suggests some fresh leads to chemical exposures that may cause cancer. NCI pointed out elevated rates of (1) bladder cancer in counties manufacturino cosmetics industrial oases and soaps and detergents: (2) lung cancer in counties producing pharmaceuticals, soaps and detergents, paints, inorganic pigments and synthetic rubber, and (3) liver cancer in counties manufacturing cosmetics, soaps and detergents and printing inks. The study, Cancer and Mortality in U.S. Counties with Chemical Industries, was made by Robert Hoover and Joseph F. Fraumeni, Jr. of NCI's Epidemiology Branch. It will appear in Environmental Re search, Vol. 9, Issue No. 2. The journal will be available in June from Joseph Petrowski, Academic Press, Journal Production Dept., Ill Fifth Ave., New York, N.Y. 10003. Louisiana C/C Hosts Tours River Parishes, La., Chemical Industry Council hosted 30 high scnool students and teacners during the QIC's annual plant tour early in April A brief slide talk on the Freeoort Chemioal Company facility at Uncle Sam, La., was followed by a visit to the ooeration and maintenance laboratory facilities, with Freeport representatives explaining the operations. After lunch at Freeport, the group went up the Mississippi to visit Gulf Oil Chemi cals Company's styrene monomer facility. Oo BFG64657 DISTRIBUTION AKRON M. N. Johnson, M.D. E. B. Katzenmeyer, Jr T. B. Nantz R. W. Strassburg E. K. Bean ALTC L. B. Crider R. M. Kreager ALGC J. M. Whitney BRDC R. J. Fawcett R. A. Krueger C. H. Lufter P. M. Zakriski CLEVELAND O. F. Beckmeyer W, F, Bixby W. E. Brodine E. F. Barker B. A. DiLiddo F. J, Donat C. L. Flynn/J. E. Stroope K. Greene E. W. Harrington W. C. Holbrook R. P. Kenney D. L. Kent J. A. Klupar K. J. Kaminski J. L. Nelson E. B. Osborne waaw/w.,; viUoxf E. G. Schwaegerfe E. J. Sehm T. H, Smith P. D. Terry A. Vittone, Jr. H. W. Waltemate P. J. Weaver PLANT MANAGERS Long Beach Henry Akron Chem. ALGC Pedricktown Orange Port Neches Louisville Calvert City A. W, Clements C. B. Cooper P. T. Whitmire R. N. Ryland A. R. Webber H. E. Phelps C. C. Nelson P. H. Lawrent C. L. Woods BFG RESTRICTED Cvi i\5 O P CO BFG6465 8