Document zzLy08wk2zL2vkBnVe5R0nGxR

January II, 1977 SUBJECT: PCB'S IN OIL M T No. PT No. 227 389 9 TO: FIELD SALES ENGINEERS The attached letter discusses a very important subject - the possible contamination of oil filled transformers by PCB's either because of past manufacturing practices or because of the method of handling bulk oil in the field. This letter should be transmitted to your customer as soon as possible. Please send the attached letter exactly as written with your' own letter of transmittal. GENP 004459 W. B. GITHER MANAGER-MARKETING POWER TRANSFORMER DEPT. R. W. FRAHM MANAG ER-MARKETING MEDIUM TRANSFORMER DEPT. DISTRIBUTION: List 1.12 (ASBD) 1.15 (TISO) 1.20 (PSS&SO) 1.21A (ISD) 1.22A (ASBD) L.30 (I&SE) 1.31 (I&SE) 25 (PTD) Tab 1A, 2B 3B, 3C, 5A, 6A, 7A 1A, IB, 1C, IE, 2A, 2B, ,2E 1A, I , 1C, 2C, 3D, 4A, 5A, 5C, 5E, 7A, 8D, 9D IA, IB, 2R, 2C, 2D,- 2E, 3A, 3E, 4H, 4D, 4E 7B| 7C, 71), 7E 8A, 8B, 10A, 10B, 10C, 4A 1A, ZA, IA, 3B,; 4A, 5A, 5B IA, IB, .in, IE, 2A, 28, 4A PT Personnel 772423 GENERAL# . ELECTRIC T/' GE PCS i cn oc A '"'ti I M " ^ o rm e SUBJECT: PCB'S IN OIL " -& Sf,e ld -* * M T No_____ t z L 389 PT No________ T O : TRANSFORMER PURCHASERS In Che recent past, it has become evident that polychlorinated biphenyLs (PCB's) tend to accumulate in the environment. PCB's are present in' P y r a n o l W and General Electric has been labeling new Pyranol transformers to indicate the procedures to be followed in the event of a Pyranol spill. Recently, the General Electric Company has discovered that some of our oil*filled transformers contain oil that Includes some PCB's. Inadvertent mixing.of small amounts of PCB's with oil could have occurred in manufac-' ture of the units or could have resulted in the field where oil and PCB's were-passed through the same filter system or through the same filler spout. . Current practices at General Electric involve stringent controls on oil quality. Chemical analyses have shown that the oil used in manufacturing has. a minimal PCB content as is true of other commonly used materials. In discussions with the National Electrical Manufacturers' Association (NEMA), it has become apparent that many transformer manufacturers may have encountered the situation of PCB's being inadvertently mixed with oil. Although the presence of PCB's in oil can affect certain dielectric properties of oil, the small amounts of PCB's we have found in oil will not affect the performance of General Electric transformers. Q W GENERAL $3' ELECTRIC 772424 O O * I The possible presence of PCB's in oil-filled transformers should be con sidered when repairing or disposing of oil-filled units. There are now only five states having legislation relating to the use and disposal of PCB's. Additional states may pass similar legislation in the future. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is preparing regulations with respect to labeling and disposal of PCB's. You should initiate the appropriate procedures to conform to applicable laws and regulations. lo . W. B. GAITHER MANAGER-MARKETING POWER TRANSFORMER DEPT. ' PITTSFIELD, MASS; R. W. FRAHM MANAGER-MARKETING MEDIUM TRANSFORMER DEPT. ROME, GEORGIA GENP 004461 -2772425