Document rpM015mMNxOmvpZ0792gDabLa

FILE NAME: Kaiser Gypsum (KG) DATE: 1989 Oct 3 DOC#: KG056 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Letter from Kaiser Gypsum to EPA RE Submission of Kaiser Gypsum Co. in Compliance with the Asbestos Information Act of 1988 KAISER GYPSUM COMPANY, INC. 7333 NORTH CALIFORNIA BLVD., SUITE 445 WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA 94596-1209 TELEPHONE (415) 256-3050 7-073 / MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. BOX 8019 WALNUT CREEK. CA 94596-1209 October 3, 1989 ATLIS Federal Services, Inc. EPA/AIA Clearing House 6011 Executive Boulevard Rockville, Maryland 20852 Re: Docket Control No. OPTS-62073; Submission of Kaiser Gypsum Company, Inc. in Compliance with the Asbestos Information Act of 1988 Dear Sirs: In compliance with the Asbestos Information Act of 1988 (the "Act") and Federal Register notices promulgated by the EPA at 54 Fed. Reg. 15622 (April 18, 1989) and 54 Fed. Reg. 32430 (August 7, 1989), Kaiser Gypsum Company, Inc. ("Kaiser Gypsum") submits information on asbestos-containing building products that it formerly manufactured. Kaiser Gypsum has not manufactured asbestos-containing building products since 1976 and has marketed no products of any sort since 1978 when the last of its production facilities in the United States was sold to a non-affiliated firm. Accordingly, Kaiser Gypsum does not have current employees with detailed personal knowledge concerning its former production and sale of products, including asbestos-containing building products. The information contained herein reflects Kaiser Gypsum's best knowledge at this time. 1. Name and address of manufacturer of asbestos-containing materials. The name of the manufacturer of asbestos-containing materials submitting information is Kaiser Gypsum Company, Kaiser Gypsum's corporate headquarters are located at 1333 California Boulevard, Walnut Creek, California 94596. Inc. North 2. Years of manufacture of asbestoscontaining materials. ' Kaiser Gypsum manufactured between 1952 and 1976. asbestos-containing / materials ATLIS Federal Services, October 3, 1989 Page two Inc. 3. Types or classes of products. Kaiser Gypsum manufactured limited lines of asbestoscontaining specialty building products within the "surfacing materials" and "miscellaneous material" categories as defined in the Act. Kaiser Gypsum did not manufacture asbestos-containing "thermal system insulation" products as that term is defined in the Act. The asbestos-containing products manufactured and sold by Kaiser Gypsum were accessory products ancillary to its main product line of gypsum wallboard, and represented a very small percentage of its overall product sales and revenue. 4. Identifying characteristics of manufactured asbestos-containing materials. 1. Texture Paints Between 1952 and 1967, Kaiser Gypsum manufactured and sold in dry powder form texture paints for surface application over gypsum wallboard under the trade names "Cover-Tex," "Spray-Tex," "Spray Cover-Tex," and "Kaiser-Tex." These products were sold by the bag and were mixed with water before application. Their primary composition was casein, limestone and mica. Each included as an ingredient a small percentage of chrysotile asbestos. These products were sold and distributed only in California and along the West Coast. Between 1968 and 1975, Kaiser Gypsum also manufactured a similar product called "Cover-Tex Wall Texture (TSS)" and marketed and distributed the product principally in California and the Pacific Northwest during that period. For a short period, between 1968 and 1975, the product was also sold in some Southeastern states, and between 1972 and 1975, in some-Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states. 2. Ceiling Texture Paints Between 1961 and 1975, Kaiser Gypsum manufactured in dry powder form ceiling texture paints called "K-Spray Ceiling Texture (KSV or KSP)" and "K-Spray Ceiling Texture (KSS)." These substances, after mixing with water, were applied over gypsum wallboard or interior concrete ceilings to produce a textured appearance. They had the same primary composition as the texture paints in paragraph one above. These products were initially sold on the West Coast and in the Pacific Northwest. Between 1968 and 1975 they were also available in several states in the Southeast and, during 1970-1976, in several Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states. ATLIS Federal Services, October 3, 1989 Page three Inc. 3. Joint Compounds Between 1953 and 1975, Kaiser Gypsum manufactured dry powder compounds under the trade names "Joint Compound - Powder," "Finishing Compound - Powder," "One-Day Joint Compound - Powder" and "3-Purpose Compound - Powder." These products, sold by the bag, were primarily composed of casein or polyvinyl, clay, talc, limestone and mica, with a small amount of chrysotile asbestos. When mixed with water, they were used to fill gypsum wallboard joints and to cover and finish nailheads and metal cornerbeads. These products were manufactured and sold primarily on the West Coast and in states in the Pacific Northwest, and, for several years and at various times between 1968 and 1976, in several Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern states. Between 1959 and 1976, Kaiser Gypsum manufactured a premix form of the compounds described in paragraph 3 above and sold them under the trade names "Premix Joint Compound," "Premix Finishing Compound," "Dual Purpose Premix Compound" and "Premix Topping Compound." These products were sold in paste form in cartons or pails and their composition was essentially the same as the dry form with the addition of a liquefying agent. Kaiser Gypsum sold these products on the West Coast and in the Pacific Northwest and, at various times between 1968 and 1976, in several Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern states. 4. Mineral Fiber Ceiling Tile Between 1963 and 1974, Kaiser Gypsum manufactured in the State of Oregon a single brand of acoustical ceiling tile and lay-in board for suspended ceilings that contained small percentages of chrysotile asbestos in order to qualify for UL-Fire Rating. The product was called "Kaiser Mineral Fiberboard UL-Fire Rated (Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc. Design)" and was composed primarily of mineral wool and various wool fibers, clays and starch. The product was sold in two thicknesses (5/8" and 1/2") and in various dimensions (the 5/8" version is known to have been sold in 12" x 12"; 12" x 48"; 24" x 24"; 24" x 36"; 24" x 48"; and 24" x 60" sizes; the 1/2" version is known to have been sold in the 24" x 24" and 24" x 48" sizes). The face side was white or colored and had a fissured or swirl, pin-punched design for acoustical treatment. This product was packed and sold in boxes of various quantities. It was distributed primarily in the Western States. - 5. Other Products Between 1968 and 1975, Kaiser Gypsum also manufactured and sold small quantities of specialized surface-finish products, whose formulas included small amounts of chrysotile asbestos, 5 ATLIS Federal Services, October 3, 1989 Page four Inc. under the trade names "Laminating Compound," "Filler Compound," "Radiant Heat Compound," "Radiant Heat Surfacing Compound," "Radiant Heat Scrimless Surfacing Compound," "Radiant Heat Joint Compound," "X-Terior Premix Prefill Compound" and "X-Terior Premix Wall Texture Compound" in California and in the Pacific Northwest ("Filler Compound," "Radiant Heat Surfacing Compound," "Radiant Heat Scrimless Surfacing Compound," and "Radiant Heat Joint Compound" was sold only in the Pacific Northwest). The "Laminating Compound" was used as an adhesive to laminate wallboard to wallboard or to sound deadening board; the "Filler Compound" was used to cover radiant heat system ceiling surfaces; the "Radiant Heat Compound" was used to cover radiant heat cables stapled to ceiling surfaces; the "Radiant Heat Surfacing Compound" was used to cover radiant heat cables embedded in ceiling surfaces, as was the "Radiant Heat Scrimless Surfacing Compound"; the "Radiant Heat Joint Compound" was used to fill cracks and embedded tape in radiant heat gypsum wallboard ceiling surfaces; the "X-Terior Premix Prefill Compound" was used to prefill joints in gypsum wallboard installed on building exteriors only; and the "X-Terior Premix Wall Texture Compound" was used to provide surface texture to gypsum wallboard installed on building exteriors only. All of these products except the Premix products were sold in bags. The Premix products were sold in cartons or buckets. The only form of asbestos used as an ingredient in these products was chrysotile. The primary compositions of these products were as follows: "Laminating Compound" (primarily soya flour and limestone); "Filler Compound" (primarily limestone and mica); "Radiant Heat Compound" (primarily sand and white Portland cement); "Radiant Heat Surfacing Compound" (primarily silica, flour and mica); "Radiant Heat Scrimless Surfacing Compound" (primarily sand, silica, flour and mica); "Radiant Heat Joint Compound" (primarily finely ground materials including casein, clay, mica and limestone); "X-Terior Premix Prefill Compound" (primarily raw gypsum, PVA emulsion and mica); and "X-Terior Premix Wall Texture Compound" (primarily limestone, acrylic emulsion and mica). Some of these products were sold for only limited periods in very limited geographical areas. The "Radiant Heat Surfacing Compound" was sold only in the Pacific Northwest between 1969 and 1970; the "Radiant Heat Compound" was sold only in Southern California between 1968 and 1974; the "Radiant Heat Scrimless Surfacing Compound" was sold only in Southern California in 1972 and in the Pacific Northwest between 1970 and 1974; the "Radiant Heat Joint Compound" was sold only in Northern California in 1972 and in the Pacific Northwest between 1971 and 1973; the "X-Terior Premix" products were sold only in Northern California IJ ATLIS Federal Services, Inc. ' October 3, 1989 Page five in 1975; the "Laminating Compound" was sold only in California between 1961 and 1972; and the "Filler Compound" was sold only in California between 1961 and 1970 and in the Pacific Northwest between 1969 and 1972. If any persons seek clarification as to the meaning of the foregoing information, they are invited to direct their inquiries to the Secretary of Kaiser Gypsum Company, Inc. at its headquarters at the above address. Respectfully submitted, KAISER GYPSUM COMPANY, INC. MAY :yl By M< S< Treasurer tr