Document rB0pa6gwb3ZnVwmVOEYn58p0J

ALBERT C. CLARK VICE PRESIDENT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR MANUFACTURING CHEMISTS ASSOCIATION 1825 CONNECTICUT AVENUE, N.W. WASHINGTON, D. C. 20009 {202) 483-6126 December 20, 1974 TO: MANAGEMENT CONTACTS OF COMPANIES SUPPORTING THE VINYL CHLORIDE RESEARCH PROGRAM TECHNICAL TASK GROUP ON VINYL CHLORIDE RESEARCH Subject: Approval of Plans for Extension of Vinyl Chloride Research Projects and Commitment of Funds for the Support Thereof This copy for _______________ Acting upon the advice of experts from the federal agencies, the Technical Task Group on Vinyl Chloride Research (TTGVCR) has recommended a significant redirection of the re search program under the administration of MCA, with an indef inite postponement of large-scale new animal inhalation exposure projects, and increased attention to studies relating to the mechanisms of action of vinyl chloride on the organism. In view of the indeterminate date of beginning any of the experiments- authorized by your companies in response to my letter of May 3, 1974, and of the probable major revision of test protocols should these studies be reproposed at a later time, your companies are being released from the pledges then made for the support of these studies, and requests for support of three new proposals are being presented. The TTGVCR is asking the industry for a pledge of $150,000 for the support of an extension of the studies being conducted by The Dow Chemical Company on behalf of the industry. The proposals for research in the areas of metabolism, tera tology, and mutagenesis are attached hereto. As the work continues in the observation and histo logical evaluation of exposed animals at Industrial BIO-TEST Laboratories, Inc. (IBT), additional areas for specialized tests and extra services arise. The TTGVCR recognizes the burden these have placed upon IBT, far beyond those reasonably anticipatable at the time the basic contract was signed before the present political and regulatory concerns with vinyl chloride developed. Recently IBT requested $20,000 in supplementary VVC OOppOSAAn -2 payments to help meet some of the extraordinary expenses that they have incurred-, particularly in liaison with the technical arms of the regulatory agencies, and the TTGVCR has recommended that the sponsors accept these charges. Additionally, some rental charges may be submitted for inhalation chambers held in reserve, during the discussions with the federal agencies on research protocols anticipating use to conduct the large scale inhalation tests planned earlier. To meet these costs, and with the prospect of future contingencies and administrative costs, the TTGVCR has asked management to provide funds total ling $50,000. The late discovery at Union Carbide's South Charleston plant of extensive files of old personnel records has provided the industry with a unique source of epidemiological material on employees with exposure histories dating back to the begin ning of the industry. These became available too late to be included in the initial Tabershaw Cooper Associates, Inc. (TCA) study, and it is now proposed that these data be searched and the expanded data base then reanalyzed to meet the extensive criticisms that have been made of our original report. At this time, we are not certain how many individuals are involved, and some minor details in the TCA proposal to do this work remain to be clarified. The Chairman of the TTGVCR has recommended that, in anticipation of final TTGVCR approval, companies be provided the opportunity to pledge, at this time, $50,000 to complete this work and to provide for contingency and adminis trative funds In summary, the research budget for which approval and pledges of support are now requested is: Follow-on studies at Dow Metabolic Teratological Mutagenesis Contingency and administrative funds Subtotal $100,000 20,000 8,000 22,000 $150,000 Supplementary costs at Industrial BIO-TEST Supplementary payment request 20,000 Contingency (including chamber rental fees) and administrative funds 30,000 Subtotal 50,000 VVc 000005661 -3- Follow-on work with Tabershaw Cooper Assoc. TCA Proposarl of Dec. 9, 1974 Contingency and administrative funds Subtotal $32,000 18,000 $50,000 Grand Total $250,000 As a number of supporting companies have requested an opportunity to pay the costs of the proposed research out of 1974 operating funds, MCA is willing to accept advance sub scriptions to be transmitted with the enclosed pledge forms. In the event that any proposed project is not fully funded contributed subscriptions will be returned. Sincerely Attachments for return by January 30, 1974 cc: Mr. A. W. Barnes D. P. Duffield, M.D. Dr. Tiziano Garlanda VVC 000005662 Please return by January 30, 1975 to; Mr. A- C. Clark Manufacturing Chemists Association 1825 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Washington, D. C. 20009 MANUFACTURING CHEMISTS ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT CONTACTS OF COMPANIES SUPPORTING THE VINYL CHLORIDE RESEARCH PROGRAM / / My company supports the proposals that the industry conduct metabolic, teratological, and mutagenetic studies on vinyl chloride, as outlined in your letter of December 19, 1974. It commits itself to its pro rata share of the costs of such research (estimated to be about 150,000) such share not to exceed $- ____/ My company supports the proposal that the Industrial BIO-TEST Laboratories, Inc. be awarded $20,000 in supplementary payments for past extraordinary expenses incurred in the conduct of their chronic inhalation studies on vinyl chloride, and that an additional $30*000 be provided by industry for future contingencies, chamber rental expense, and MCA administrative costs. It commits itself to its pro rata share of this $50,000, such share not to exceed $ . /_____/ My company supports the proposal that Tabershaw Cooper Associates-, Inc. be retained to work up the data on the Union Carbide personnel records as described in their proposal of December 9, 1974, and to re-analyze the complete data from this and prior VC/PVC epidemiological studies in approved formats. It commits itself to its pro rata share of the costs for such work estimated to be not more than $50,000 (including contingency and administrative funds) such share not to exceed $ ___________ It is"understood that the details of these research programs are subject to refinement and revision by the Research Coordinators, with the advice and concurrence of the TTGVCR, VVC 000005663 2- and that MCA will not authorize the work in question until such concurrence has been obtained. Signed Name (typed) ___________________________________________________ Title Company Address ______ _____________ Telephone _______)________-___________ext. (j/VC 000005664