Document vy28YezZojYxzBZwMMypj13dE

September 1, 1970 Nr, W. C. Reinhardts Manager Research k Development Moloney Kleotrlc Company P. 0, Box 101 St. Louis, Missouri 63166 Dear Blllt Paul Benlgnus Informed me of your NEMA oomalttee deolslon to handle the PCB problem thru ANSI. Paul also suggested that X prepare a paragraph or two describing the magnitude of the problem and the action whioh Is being taken for possible use by your committee In your communications with ANSI. X have attached the suggested paragraphs. X hope they are useful. If X can be of further service, please let me know. Sincerely, V. B. Papageorge Manager, Environmental Control OCi Nr. ? 0. Benlgnus Monsanto Company OSH 019563 STLCOPCB4007496 The presence of materials Identified as polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) In marine environments was first noted by Profeasors 0. Vidmark and S. Jensen of the Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Stockholm, Sweden, and reported In November, 1966. Since then and with Increasing frequency other Investigators have identified PCB In marine and animal life. Mounting evldenoe has been noted that Indicates PCB Is ubiquitously present In the environment and Is harmful to a few speoiflo species of wildlife. In July, 1970, the Pood * Drug Administration Issued guidelines to its field offloes establishing tipper limits of PCB content of 0.2 ppm In milk and 5.0 ppm In food. Milk or food exceeding these limits la subject to confiscation. Lacking an acceptable substitute and recognising that the benefits of askarels whioh contain PCB far outweigh the potential threat to the environment, the manufacturer (Monsanto Company) and the users of askarels are committed to a self-Imposed program of tightly controlling the use of PCB to dramatically reduce the amount escaping to the environment. Palling to aohleve this objective will be interpreted as evldenoe that these members of industry are not responsivs to the welfare of the environment and provide the Incentive for regulatory agenelea, both state and federal, to take preolpltous drastic actions. DSW 019564 STLCOPCB4007497