Document rpzz1DXvb5kXkoz0OwD6gyza7

SPAC-2L Chemical Manufacturers Association Record of Meeting Special Projects Advisory Group Place: CMA Conference Room 404 Date: February 14, 1980 ATTENDEES Thomas W. Mooney, Chairman Frank A. Bower Fred C. Dehn Richard Fleming Gary Ter Haar Richard Kociba Curtis W. Smith Donald R. Strobach T. R. Torkelsen , - Debra J. Boltas Geraldine V. Cox Victor H. Peterson Randal P. Schumacher Joseph T. Seawell Hasmukh C. Shah Carol R. Stack John C. van Horn David F. Zoll AFFILIATION Procter & Gamble Company E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company PPG Industries, Inc. Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. Ethyl Corporation The Dow Chemical Company Shell Chemical Company E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company The Dow Chemical Company CMA CMA CMA CMA CMA CMA CMA CMA CMA 1.0 The minutes of the January 9, 1980 meeting were accepted with the following change: Page 3, paragraph 3, sentence 2 now reads: "The standing committees are funded where required as part of the approved CMA budget based on dues paid by all CMA member companies." 2.0 SPAG CHARTER Using the Belmont Retreat report, Dr. Shah and Dr. Mooney will draft a SPAG charter for presentation at the March SPAG meeting. 3.0 SPECIAL PROJECTS GUIDELINES SPAG reviewed the existing Special Projects Guidelines and CMA 054672 SPAG-2 suggested modifications, additions, and deletions. Dr. Mooney and Dr. Shah will incorporate the suggestions into a draft for SPAG's review. Major areas of'modification will be as follows: 3.1 addition of a section on advocacy and reference to advocacy where appropriate; *3.2 sponsors must agree to "disclose (all) findings to the public and place in the public domain (all) methodology or technical or scientific information not confidential by law or agreement developed direct ly by the project..." The procedure for clearance and release of data should be defined. 3.3 elimination of the role of the CMA Executive Committee where SPAG has been given authority. The Executive Committee would become involved when there is a question or conflict at the SPAG level; 3.4 the procedure for the release of information will be updated to reflect a positive attitude and to move ` away from 3 (e) as the central issue. Exceptions to release will be reviewed by SPAG; 3.5 the administration of Special Projects will, as a minimum, follow the proposal accepted by the CMA Executive Committee in September, 1979 ; 3.6 the financial procedure and charges will be made current with CMA policy; 3.7 CMA reimbursement procedures will be updated by Dr. Shah; 3.8 the termination section will be rewritten by Dr. Shah; 3.9 SPAG will provide guidance and oversight to Panels. It will not become involved in day-to-day panel operations ; 3.10 participating companies, especially non-CMA members, must understand the guidelines and agree in writing to follow them. 4.0 VINYL CHLORIDE Dr. Torkelson presented the background of the vinyl chloride project. Vinyl chloride has had more political/regulatory exposure than many other projects, often because OSHA was, and still is, trying to establish policy. The problems the project have encountered include: CMA 054673 SPAG-3 - the number of sDonsors has varied from 29 in 1975 to 17 in 1980? - delay in getting approval for the project. Dr. Torkelson was concerned that SPAG might become another obstacle to this process, but was assured by Dr- Shah and Dr. Cox that SPAG will decrease the time factor rather than increase it; - flexibility of funds - the fact that a project cannot get started until all funds are in-house. 4.1 Dr. T. R. Torkelson reviewed the Vinyl Chloride Industrial Bio-Test (IBT) study as an example of the question of information release. The vinyl chloride Panel does not think the study a worthwhile one. Dr. Torkelson asked how the information that this study is complete and that it was a failure can be distributed so that the public will be satisfied that it was invalid. Dr. Torkelson is concerned about the negative impression that the chronology of events might leave. However, the Panel did not understand the necessity for auditing at IBT when this research was first undertaken. Dr. Torkelson explained the IBT chronology to dat . He informed SPAG that available information was summarized and turned over to CMA's legal counsel, who went to IBT in September. To date, IBT has not responded. Following the work of a consultant pathologist and the audit task group, the Panel realized that the study was worthless and decided not to proceed further with the final summary report, which had been distributed to the audit task group The SPAG agreed that the Vinyl Chloride Panel should prepare a report for release to the public rather than waiting for the financial questions to be settled. Details of timing and content were not decided. Mr. Zoll, Office of the General Counsel, CMA, will get an opinion from Ci-IA's General Counsel on what to do with the data while the legal issue is being resolved. 4.2 Another problem facing the Vinyl Chloride Panel is the need to update the original (5 year old) epidemiology study which was conducted with 30 companies. Many of the original companies which have changed hands or no long* produce"vinyl chloride may no longer be interested in CMA 054674 SPAG-4 supporting research, but their data is still needed. 4.3 The Management of Special Projects is going to have to be more firm in drawing deadlines for participation on projects, and then begin with the committed companies. SPAG re-emphasized that panels will not have to come to SPAG to change protocols or for more funding as long as they are still working within their charter. SPAG asked that panel chairmen share their experience and concerns with SPAG. The possibility of panel chairmen reporting to SPAG on a twice a year basis was mentioned, although a project could still come to SPAG for advice at any time. 5*0 ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE Dr. Gary Ter Haar reviewed the bioassay program at the National Cancer Institute (SPAG-2-E) and questioned how industry can have better input into the decision as to what chemicals should be tested in the NCI bioassay pro gram. He commented that the only way he finds out that a chemical is being tested is when he gets a request for' that chemical from a research institute. Dr. Ter Haar" suggested that CMA serve as the industry spokesperson at outside advisory group meetings, or advise companies of those meetings they should attend. He asked that CMA take a more active role in monitoring public activities. SPAG questioned whether we could advocate a way to do testing without then endorsing the research. The input industry could have might include: - selection of test articles - protocols to be followed - auditing Dr. Cox said that the issue Dr. Ter Haar raised might be better addressed by the CRAC since she saw SPAG's role as that of an advisor to special projects teams. Dr. Curtis Smith will discuss Dr. Ter Haar's recommendations with L'KAC at its February meeting at which it will be discuss ing long-range issues. Dr. Smith listed the objectives as follows: 1. agree not to try to enter into priority determination; 2. react to basis of decision (information used); CMA 054675 i SPAG-5 3. assure test procedures follow good laboratory pro cedure and process and make known that we want the opportunity to audit. 6.0 FLUOROCARBONS Dr. Donald Strobach outlined the background of the Fluoro carbon Project Panel and presented a fluorocarbon advocacy proposal to SPAG (SPAG-2-B). The Panel would like to make a statement in response to the November 1979 NAS report, "Stratospheric Ozone Depletion by Halocarbons: Chemistry and Transport". It would like to assume an advocacy position in which disagreement is expressed with the interpretation of scientific data in the report. Although the Panel members have spoken out individually they feel that by speaking as a body through CMA their point of view would carry additional weight. It would also eliminate duplication of effort between companies and allow for quicker response. Dr. Strobach also indicated the possibility for input to Congressman Stafford. Mr. Zoll and Mr. Peterson asked that CMA's legal and communications departments be allowed to review the Panel's response before it is released. Dr. Strobach asked that the information be released to scientific journals and magazines only; however, if CMA receives calls from press or other popular media, the information may also be given to them. The External Affairs Task Force of the Fluorocarbon Pro ject Panel (FPP) will write a document for full Panel approval. It will be a cooperative effort between the scientists and lawyers. SPAG unanimously accepted the proposed advocacy role. 7.0 KETONES Mr. Randal P. Schumacher presented a proposed program on Ketones Toxicology to SPAG (SPAG-2-D). Phase I of the project will be the compilation of toxicological infor mation on acetone, cyclohexanone, mesityl oxide, isophorone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isoamyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, and methyl n-propyl ketone. Estimated cost for CMA administration of Phase I is $24,000. The literature review will be used as a basis for a decision on toxicolog ical testing of specific compounds. SPAG unanimously approved the proposed program on Ketones Toxicology Phase I. 8.0 Dr. Cox outlined the agenda for the semi-annual meeting to CMA 054676 SPAG-6 be held in Houston. Special Projects (excluding Fluoro carbons) and Fluorocarbons will each have a time slot. 9.0 NEXT MEETING The next SPAG meeting will be held Monday, March 24, 1980 in CMA Conference Room 404. (This date has been changed after the meeting. The new date is April 2, 1980. The agenda for the next meeting is attached. Please note that the meeting will be at Shell offices and not CMA offices. Hasmukh C. Shah, Ph.D. Director, Special Projects CMA 054677