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U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), today made the following statement in support of the survivors of the Bhopal, India chemical disaster and outlined measures in his Chemical Security Act, currently before Congress. At a press conference in front of the Dow Chemical Company plant in Piscataway, NJ, Pallone was joined by Bhopal activists and the family of survivors to point out the devastating effects chemical spills can have and to stress measures that can be taken to prevent them.
On the night of December 2, 1984, 27 tons of highly toxic gas leaked from a Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal. More than twenty years later, estimates are that 20,000 people died as a result of the leak and another 120,000 were injured.
"The Bhopal disaster is an event that shocked the world and remains a vivid memory for those who heard what happened. Unfortunately, many of the victims and their families that remain in Bhopal have yet to receive reparations. It’s outrageous that over twenty years have passed and that the CEOs of Union Carbide and its successor Dow Chemical still have yet to be brought to justice.
It is unacceptable to allow an American company not only to exploit international borders and legal jurisdictions but also to evade civil and criminal liability for environmental pollution and abuses committed overseas. These injustices cannot continue.
In Bhopal, some of the world's poorest people are being mistreated by one the world's richest corporations. As Union Carbide's successor company, Dow Chemical is now responsible for the disaster. Dow Chemical has the resources to deal with the health problems and to help the 800,000 people of Bhopal that were devastated by the tragedy.
On February 20 of this year, more than 130 survivors of the Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal, India began to march on foot to New Delhi, demanding justice and a life of dignity for those affected by the tragedy and its aftermath. The march is the biggest and most important action ever organized by the Bhopal campaign.
As we continue to work on getting justice for the victims of the Bhopal disaster, we also need to make sure that nothing like that ever happens again -- especially here in New Jersey, where there are so many chemical plants.
The federal EPA has identified 123 facilities across the country where a terrorist attack or accident could lead to a toxic release threatening the life and health of more than 1 million people -- 7 of which are in New Jersey. In the wake of September 11th, much time and effort in Congress and throughout the federal government has been devoted to understanding where our nation's vulnerabilities lie and addressing them. But we have still done virtually nothing on chemical security.
Both Congress and the Administration have largely bowed to the chemical industry's wishes. On Tuesday, Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff urged Congress to move quickly to pass legislation on chemical security -- but what he proposed was weak and would likely prevent New Jersey's tough new security regulations.
Instead, I have introduced the Chemical Security Act, which would require that the EPA work with the Department of Homeland Security to identify high priority chemical facilities and require that they conduct vulnerability assessments. EPA would also require these facilities to provide certified response plans so that they are prepared for catastrophes. In addition, there are provisions for giving financial assistance to plants that cannot afford safety upgrades and grants to train first responders and chemical plant employees.
It is high time for Congress to act -- we can never forget what happened at Bhopal, and we must make every effort possible to ensure that nothing like that ever happens again.
I will continue to urge my colleagues in Congress to pass meaningful chemical security legislation, and I will continue to work with these activists to see that justice is done for the survivors of the Bhopal tragedy." |
