W. B. Reitze to Dr. Paul Kotin on the Mexican Joint Venture with Peñoles (1975)

A one-page memo of November 11, 1975, from W. B. Reitze to Dr. Paul Kotin (copies to E. M. Fenner and M. Sharratt) on a "Mining Activities Report." Of the two items that concerned them, the first was a planned joint venture in Mexico with Peñoles, in which J-M would be a 40% partner and which would use the mining and milling machinery from J-M's Reeves Township operation. That machinery, Reitze writes, "was not at all adequate in controlling asbestos fiber and dust," with fiber levels "in many instances" of 50 to 100 fibers per cubic centimeter. "I do not see how it is possible for us to in clear conscience be a part of a mining operation which we know from the start will endanger the lives of those people working in the operation."

What it shows

Reitze dismisses the two answers that had been offered. Meeting Mexican rules was "meaningless," since "it is my understanding that Mexico has no regulations," and having Peñoles accept all responsibility for health problems would not leave J-M "safe morally, legally, or public relations wise." He asks that the venture be followed closely to make sure proper dust controls are taken. The second item, a nickel concentrating pilot mill at Jeffrey, he refers to J-M's research department. The memo shows a J-M health officer warning, before the venture began, that the equipment chosen would endanger the men who worked with it.

In Johns-Manville's chronology

Johns-Manville's own chronology of what the company knew describes this document as follows:

Memorandum from Reitze to Kotin (cc Fenner and M. Sharratt), 11/11/75, Mining Activity Report. Only two entries in the report were of concern to Sharratt and Reitze. The first was the Mexican joint venture with Penoles in which J-M would e a 40% partner. Reitze notes that the machinery intended for use in that operation was formerly in use at Reeves .1. proved inadequate to control fiber and dust. He points out that levels in "many instances" were in the 50-100 fiber/cc level range. "I do not see how it is possible for us to in clear conscience be a part of a mining operation which we know from the start will endanger the lives of those people working in the operation. Apparently a check has been made of the Mexican regulations and the thought is that we will meet these regulations. It is my understanding that Mexico has no regulations, so therefore to make this statement is meaningless. Another thought has been advanced that we would request Penoles to accept all responsibility for environmental health problems that might arise at the Mexican operation. Even if Penoles were to agree to this, I am not quite certain whether we would be safe morally, legally, or public relations-wise. I believe we should follow this very closely and do every thing in our power to see to it that proper environmental control precautions are taken."