Document zjeda4pmXoyBaZ70QVGQEb7

Monsanto r MOM iMAMK ft L ATI i VftJCCT i MttMMti TO : 7>ce fo,,1 ! -'A^ i ij (371 '______Washington, 0. C.______________________________________________ _____ March 18, 1971 Dr. E. Kelly, St. Louis'^ W. J. McCarville, St. Louis P. Park, St. Louis S. Pickard Mr. John Mason St. Louis Missouri JMASO ' L, \^Am^ Mr. Ruckelshaus, Administrator of EPA, held a press con ference in the Mayflower Hotel this morning for the pur pose of announcing some action his agency was undertaking, with respect to several pesticides. During the question ing period which followed his formal statement, someone asked Mr. Ruckelshaus what his agency was doing about polychlorinated biphenyls and their presence in the en vironment. The questlonner noted that PCB was manufactured by only one company in the United States and that that company was Monsanto Company. Mr. Ruckelshaus responded by say ing that his organization was aware of the problems with PCB in the environment and had indeed discussed PCB's as recently as yesterday in his staff meeting. Mr. Ruckelshaus further indicated they were indeed going to get into the "question" of PCB's. Following the press conference while visiting with Dr, Ray Johnson, Commissioner of Pesticides, EPA, I questioned him regarding what actions they might be considering on PCB's. He said he was aware of none as of now. I indicated to Dr. Johnson that we had been in close contact with FDA and Agriculture regarding PCB's but I was not aware of any direct contacts we have had lyith EPA particularly at the administrative level. I suggested to Dr. Johnson for him to pass along to Mr. Ruckelshaus that we in Monsanto would be most happy and welcome an opportunity to come in and discuss with EPA our plans and program for PCB's. If you agree that we should follow up this contact with Mr. Ruckelshaus and I think we should, we will be glad to pur sue it and set up an appropriate meeting. 1 think the time is right now for us to have a good exchange of ideas with EPA administrative personnel. JDE.fdd I# ftfV. MUMS 100006