J. P. McCarthy to N. W. H. on W. R. Grace's Search for an Asbestos Substitute (1970)

A two-page memo of February 25, 1970, from J. P. McCarthy in San Francisco to "N.W.H." of J-M's Asbestos Fibre Division, reporting on his February 18 visit to W. R. Grace's California Zonolite plant in Los Angeles, a buyer of J-M asbestos fiber. The production manager told him that Grace was pressing its technical director to find a substitute for asbestos in its formulations, and that the "medical aspect" was behind the push.

What it shows

McCarthy suggests that J-M's own environmental control director may be part of the problem: "our Ed Fenner calls on the Grace people back east and maybe, I say maybe, he might be scaring them a bit by saying that they should protect themselves with the same type systems our plants have or will have." Such systems are very expensive, he adds, "and I personally feel we (J-M) are over doing it a bit in this area." He proposes that any new evidence "arrived at by some doctor which is favorable to us" be shown to Grace, so "maybe we can cool down their big 'push'." A handwritten note at the top, addressed to Fenner, asks for his comments.

In Johns-Manville's chronology

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

Correspondence to "N.W.H." from J.P. McCarthy 2/25/70 expresses concern that Fenner may be scaring customer (W.R. Grace) by advising of need to protect against health hazards. McCarthy further states that dust control systems are expensive and J-M may be "over-doing it."