Document zzGvGZ51zrbKaky7QEOaKjnx0

m i n n i m r -- -* uZlm^T G E N E R A L ELECTRIC COMPAHY o April IS, 1970 Mr. P. G. Benignus Market Manager - Dielectric Fluids Monsanto Company 800 N. Lindbergh Boulevard St. Louis, Missouri 63166 Dear Mr. Benignus: In Mr. Raab's absence, I am sending you an advance copy of a letter we propose to send to General Electric customers pursuant to your letters of February 18 and April 1, 1970.. A n y comments you m a y w i s h to make can be made directly to Mr.' Raab. Very truly yours, -c ELD:iw Att. cc: EL Raab GENP 005418 774069 IDS 003334* i, - Letter to Customer: As you are well aware, the public concern with pollution is rapidly escalating* As time goes on, it can be expected to reach out to affect more and more materials that are even suspect of being potential pollutants and contaminants of the environment. Recently there have been indications that polychlorbiphenyls have been found at some points in marine, aquatic, and wildlife environ ments. While quantities are relatively small, it is a matter of growing concern as to their effect on some species of wildlife. % Monsanto Chemical Company is the sole supplier to the industry of various grades of chlorinated biphenyls for use as a liquid dielectric in electrical apparatus. These materials are known as askarels or by various trademarks, including General Electric's registered trademark, Pyranol. Monsanto has been reviewing procedures to be sure that these materials do not find their way into land or water environment. General Electric is in receipt of a letter from Monsanto expressing its concern, and a copy is attached for your information. s> Although this material is sealed in electrical apparatus, there may be occasions when disposal may become necessary and the problem of environmental control arises. In order to aid you in solving the problem of disposal, we have made arrangements with Monsanto to dispose of scrap Pyranol. Should you have scrap Pyranol, it should be placed c in closed drums and shipped, at your expense, to Monsanto's W. G. Krummrich Plant at S a u g e t , .Illin o i s , attention Supervisor, Dept. 246. c " lJ005419 774070 IDS 003335 I (Letter to Customer Page 2) Monsanto has initially established a charge of 3t for each pound of scrap-material returned by you. Material which.is saturated with Pyranol such as fuller's earth, sawdust, rags, solid insulations taken from apparatus, etc., should be contained and stored by you pending a better solution. We intend to bring the whole disposal problem to the attention of an appropriate body in the industry with an aim to working out a long-range solution for the industry. * The industry has used askarels in apparatus for over thirty years. .In,pur. .e x p e rie n c e , they; Jiayfs .-produced, np i l l , e f f e c t ,p n .workmen.in, c l o se -, contact with them except for temporary skin irritation in certain individuals, as noted in our instruction books. We plan to continue the use of this excellent liquid dielectric t and because it is used in sealed apparatus, we foresee no difficulties provided good judgment is exercised in handling and disposal procedures. Very truly yours, E L D :iw 4/14/70 GENP 00542 774071 XOS 003336