CARBIDE STILL THE FOCUS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CRITICS
Union Carbide became the focus of attention 10 years ago following the Bhopal tragedy, and it is still in the spotlight. Most recently two groups charged the company with stalling on environmental and safety progress.
Carbide ranked high on the list of "America's Worst Corporate Polluters," a report by the Council on Economic Priorities (CEP; New York). CEP, which compared Carbide with 10 competitors, says the company spilled almost 500,000 gallons and more than 400,000 lbs of chemicals in 24 major accidents reported to federal emergency officials between 1990 and 1994. In addition, CEP says, Carbide paid about $1.7 million in fines for worker safety violations in that period, following two major accidents and explosions at Seadrift, TX and South Charleston, WV plants,
CEP also says that a $17-million hospital Carbide had pledged to fund for accident victims has not been constructed. In addition, an international medical commission on Bhopal reported that many of those injured still lack adequate long-term care.
A Carbide spokesman says that the CEP report is "a pretty blatant attempt to discredit Union Carbide--it is filled with distortion." He says CEP claims Carbide leaked 380,000 gal of a chloroform mixture--which was actually an emission of less than 1 lb of chloroform in water.
Carbide also says a trust it established in 1992 for victims has already reached $6 million and plans for the hospital are under way. Meanwhile, the Communities Concerned about Corporations, a national coalition of community groups, launched a protest of Carbide's handling of its chemical plants since the Bhopal disaster.
The company says, "in the past 10 years, Carbide has been a pioneer in setting worldwide standards, developing an internal auditing program, and establishing a risk management program using leading technologies." In addition, the company says it has spent more than $200 million on health, safety, and environment.
CARBIDE STILL THE FOCUS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CRITICS
Union Carbide became the focus of attention 10 years ago following the Bhopal tragedy, and it is still in the spotlight. Most recently two groups charged the company with stalling on environmental and safety progress.
Carbide ranked high on the list of "America's Worst Corporate Polluters," a report by the Council on Economic Priorities (CEP; New York). CEP, which compared Carbide with 10 competitors, says the company spilled almost 500,000 gallons and more than 400,000 lbs of chemicals in 24 major accidents reported to federal emergency officials between 1990 and 1994. In addition, CEP says, Carbide paid about $1.7 million in fines for worker safety violations in that period, following two major accidents and explosions at Seadrift, TX and South Charleston, WV plants,
CEP also says that a $17-million hospital Carbide had pledged to fund for accident victims has not been constructed. In addition, an international medical commission on Bhopal reported that many of those injured still lack adequate long-term care.
A Carbide spokesman says that the CEP report is "a pretty blatant attempt to discredit Union Carbide--it is filled with distortion." He says CEP claims Carbide leaked 380,000 gal of a chloroform mixture--which was actually an emission of less than 1 lb of chloroform in water.
Carbide also says a trust it established in 1992 for victims has already reached $6 million and plans for the hospital are under way. Meanwhile, the Communities Concerned about Corporations, a national coalition of community groups, launched a protest of Carbide's handling of its chemical plants since the Bhopal disaster.
The company says, "in the past 10 years, Carbide has been a pioneer in setting worldwide standards, developing an internal auditing program, and establishing a risk management program using leading technologies." In addition, the company says it has spent more than $200 million on health, safety, and environment.
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