Document qamRKKMLML0XwvmvyzgZ3ra9n
Monsanto
ta(M INAMI * tOCAI'OMi
Jack T. Garrett - Medical Department
t'Atl
<M/BJl 1
siMNiert
February 27, 19^9
Aroclors - San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Board
H. S. Bergen J. E. Sprmggate W. R. Richard T. C. Ford
R. E. Kelly/E. P, Wheeler
TO : Aroclor - Wildlife File
Mr. H. C. Knapp of the technical staff of the San Francisco
Bay Regional Water Quality Board called our San Francisco sales office during the early part of the week, February 23-28, I969, and asked for information about Aroclor use in the bay area. The sales offioe told Mr. Knapp that he would be oontaoted by the St. Louis Office. They referred
the call by phone to Mr. T. C. Ford of Public Relations.
Mr. Ford then asked the Medical Department to answer the call.
On Wednesday, February 26, 1969, Mr. J. T. Garrett of the Medical Department staff called Mr. Knapp, Knapp said that he called because of concern expressed by his Board Chairman over an article that had appeared in the Monday, February 24, 1969 issue of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Mr. Knapp asked four questions about Monsanto Aroclor products. These questions were*
1. How are these products used in business and industry?
2. Does Monsanto manufacture or use appreciable quantities in its Bay Area plants?
3. Where does Monsanto store or warehouse these products in the Bay Area and in these operations is there any repackaging?
4. What analytical techniques are used to analyze for these products in water?
Mr. Garrett, Mr, . p. Wheeler of the Medical Department, Mr,
H. S. Bergen of Organic Division Fluids Marketing, and Dr. w. R.
Richard of Organic Division Research answered the questions posed
`by Mr. Knapp.
,
Mr. Knapp was given a rather thorough briefing on the uses of Aroclors and was told that he would be given a list of the warehousing facilities in the Bay Area. He was told that Monsanto does no repackaging in these facilities. He was also
TRAN 059474
HARTOLDMON0027486
4
told that Monsanto does not produce or use appreciable quantities In Its Bay Area plants.
The question of analysis was discussed and Mr. Knapp was told that the levels indicated in the Chronicle article were deter mined by gas chromatographic techniques. This type of analysis requires very expensive equipment and experience with the tech niques and interpretations to get any meaningful results. Mr. Knapp was further told that Aroclors are soluble in water only to the extent of 200 parts per billion (ppb) and that the levels found in water are not considered hazardous to humans or aquatic
life.
Mr. Knapp seemed satisfied with the information received. His
technical staff will probably question some of the Monsanto
customers in the Bay Area and in all probability will inspect
their handling techniques. It is also probable that they will
inspect all warehousing facilities in the Bay Area where Aroclors
are stored.
'
Mr. Knapp's address and telephone number is:
Mr. H. C. Knapp San Francisco Bay Regional Water
Quality Board
364 14th St., 3rd Floor Oakland, California 94612
Telephone: (415) 834-3460 - Ext. 536.
Jack T. Oarrett
t
TRAN 059475 HARTOLDMONOQ27487