EPA FACT SHEET REGARDING THE INCIDENT IN BHOPAL
DEC. 1O, 1984
I want to thank everyone who cooperated so'full in helping us
to pull this backgrounder together on short notice. We hope it is
helpful in achieving Jack McGraw's goal of having the Agency respond
with "one voice" on inquiries about the Indian situation.
This Q&A mill undoubtedly have to updated regularly over the
coming weeks as new questions are asked. We will be sending out
such updates on an as-needed basis.
Again, only answer those questions in your area of expertise/
and don't hesitate to refer any inquiries to the press office, where
n/e can find the appropriate person to handle given questions.
Thank you once more for your responsiveness.
Dave Cohen
Acting Director
Press Services Division
-------
FACT SHEET ON METHYL ISOCYANATE, EPA AND THE SITUATION IN .INDIA
[Note to EPA employees: If you receive any press calls on this issue,
please refer them to the EPA Press Office, Dave Cohen (382-558?)
Dave Ryan(382-29Sl), Robin Woods(382-4377) or the general number
382-4355. Any calls the Press Office can't handle itself will be
referred to the proper people in the programs. If you are asked to
talk to a reporter/ don't hesitate to make it clear that you will
only talk on your areas of expertise/ and on nothing else. If
reporters try to steer you into areas you can't or don't want to
talk about/ just refer them back to the Press Office or the proper
number to reach the press coordinator. We will notify any program
contacts before referring a call. If a Task Force Team is set up to
coordinate information/ Dave Ryan will represent the press office.]
Q. Is anybody coordinating the Federal Government's response to this
i ssue?
A. Jack McGraw, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Emergency
Response has been designated by Al Aim/ EPA's Deputy Administrator/
to head a special task force for coordination of EPA's activity in
this matter. He has designated Jim Makris as his Project Leader. The
Task Force can be reached on 475-8600. The overall Federral
coordination will be achieved through the National Response Team/
which is chaired by EPA and includes representation from 12 Federal
Agencies. Press calls should not be referred to the Task Force or
Jim Makris unless they have first been handled by the Press Office.
It is important to note that the Task Force is being set up merely
to handle the abundance of calls/ not as an emergency response
measure.
Q. What is methyl isocyanate (MIC) and how is it used?
A. MIC is a chemical used mainly as an "intermediate" in the process
of manufacturing certain pesticides such as Temik/ Carbaryl and
Sevin. It does not appear in the finished product/ so it is not a
pesticide problem.
Q. What are the health effects of MIC?
A. The human health effects data which EPA has available indicate
that MIC causes an acid burn in the lungs. MIC attacks ang part of
the body which is particularly moist/ such as the eyes/ lungs/
mucous membranes. The short-term effect is eye irriatation and
difficulty breathing. Eventually/ the symptoms are similar to those
of pneumonia. The long-term effect is possible permanent lung and
eye damage with extensive scar tissue formation. Isocyanates cause
pulmonary sensitization and mau trigger asthmatic epispdes.
-------
Q. Does EPA regulate methyl isocyanate?
A. Yes. under both the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act(RCRA)
and Superfund. Under RCRA, MIC is listed as a hazardous waste
whenever it's discarded, and therefore is subject to the various
requirements under that law (For example, one requirement is that it
must be managed in RCRA-permitted storage, treatment and disposal
facilities). Under the Superfund program. MIC released into the
environment from an accident or a waste site must be controlled.
neutralized, or cleaned up to the extent necessary to protect health
or the environment. MIC entered the market place 15 years ago,
before EPA was formed and before TSCA was passed. MIC is subject,
however, to reporting under Section 8(e) of TSCA. 8(e) requires the
manufacturer, processor, or distributor of a chemical to immediatley
notify EPA if he obtains information which reasonably supports the
conclusion that the chemical presents a substantial risk of injury
to health or the environment. EPA did receive on 8(e> notificiation
on MIC from UNion Carbide. That notification provided data from an
inhalation study on rats showing that MIC was highly, acutely toxic.
MIC is also subject to recordkeeping under Section 8(c) of TSCA.
Under 8(c>, manufacturers, processors or distributors must maintain
records of significant adverse reactions to health or the
environment. Health records must be maintained for 30 years and can
be filed by employees or plant neighbors. EPA may inspect such
records upon request.
Q. What is Union Carbide's position on MIC?
A. We cannot speak for the company. Their information number is
(2O3) 794-69B6 in Danbury, Connecticut. Any questions on what is
happening in India should be referred to Union Carbide unless such
questions deal with any personnel EPA may dispatch to that country.
Q. Is MIC made in the U.S.?
A. Union Carbide has a plant in Institute. West Virginia(near
Charleston) which manufactures MIC and ships it to other
manufacturers who use it as a chemical intermediate in the
production of pesticides. Union Carbide has shut down the MIC part
of the W. Va. plant until a safety investigation is completed on the
India situation.
-------
Q. Does EPA know where MIC is shipped to from the West Virginia
plant?
A. Union Carbide does have this information but thus far refuses to
officially divulge it from their Danbury, Connecticut headquarters
(Although there are recent indications that Union Carbide may change
its mind. Callers should be encouraged to check customer lists with
Union Carobide) It is not a part of EPA's record keeping. Such
information is not normally required under TSCA. and even if it were
required, this type of information is often claimed as confidential
by the submitting company. Confidential business information cannot
be released by EPA to the public without criminal penalties. Under
Section 7 of FIFRA, registrants of pesticides are required to
register their facilities/ and annually must provide information to
EPA on the types and amounts of pesticides produced. Based on our
knowledge of pesticides which use MIC as a chemical intermediate( we
might be able to deduce locations and volumes. However/ that
information would also be protected as confidential business
information under the pesticide statutes and it would not be
released to the general public. OPTS does have access to proprietary
data collected by one of its contractors. That data is more up to
date than the TSCA inventory on production volume and also contains
customer information. We are checking now to determine if we can
release this set of propietary data.
On Dec. 11 George Hanks, the Federal Environmental Affairs
Director of Union Carbide in Washington, D. C. "unofficially"
confirmed at least part of a customer list for the Institute plant:
FMC Corp. plant in Middleport. N. Y. ; the Dupont plant in La Porte,
Texas; the Morton-Thioko1 plant in Weeks Island, Louisiana; the
NOR-AM plant in Muskegon, Michigan; the Union Carbide plant in
Woodbine, Georgia; the Velsicol plant in Pasadena, Texas; Shell
Chemical, Institute, West Virginia. (Note to EPA employees: This
list is given you for your information. Most of it has already
appeared in the Wall Street Journal. Callers should confirm these
sites with Union Carbide).
Q. What other Federal agencies have responsibilities for safety
regarding MIC?
A. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has a
worker protection standard (.02 parts per million). The Dept. of
Transportation (DOT) classifies MIC as a flammable liquid in the
"hazardous" class, which means that certain protective shipping
requirements must be met. OSHA contact: Susan Fleming(523-8151);
DOT contact: Lee MetcaIf(426-2075)
-------
Q. What about protecting the tanks MIC is stored in?
A. When RCRA was reauthorized by the President early last November,
a major new section of the law was enacted to ensure the safety of
underground storage tanks. The new regulations(the deadline for
development is 33 months from signing for new tanks and 45 months
for existing tanks) would call for the assured integrity of the
entire underground tank structure/ including such considerations as
valves and pressurization. so as to prevent releases to ground and
surface water and to soil. EPA requires a response to above-ground
chemical releases into the atmosphere under Superfund. Above-ground
tanks with hazardous wastes are regulated under RCRA.
Q. What would happen if there were a leak?
A. Three federal agencies would have emergency response
responsibilities, depending on the circumstances. Superfund
legislation requires that release of any hazardous substances into
the environment must be reported to the Coast Guard National
Response Center in Washington D. C. MIC i~sFfifteUas a hazardous
substance under Superfund and a hazardous waste under RCRA and the
agency would respond to any emergency involving MIC. The Federal
Emergency Management Administration(FEMA) and DOT also have
emergency response capabilities.
Q. Are there other mechanisms for assuring safety?
A. There are standards set up by the American Society for Testing
Materials, an industry testing association. Their number is (2O2)
737-6815. Their standards are designed to prevent chemical leaks
from equipment and pipes. The standards are not mandatory, although
companies have generally accepted them. There are also national and
local firecodes which could come into play in preventing a situation
posed by a chemical accident.
Q. Will people from EPA go to India?
A. EPA has received a request from several West Virginia
politicians to send a team to India. If the State Department
approves/ EPA will do so. We have done this in the past with other
overseas disasters, such as the dioxin problem in Seveso/ Italy in
1976.
-------
Q. Could this happen here?
A. First off, no one knows yet exactly what happened in India. As
of Dec. 10, Union Carbide believed that there wasn't even an.
equipment failure. Even if it was an equipment failure, it is
extremely unlikely that a disaster on the scale of Dhopal could
occur in the U.S. Ue have tighter regulatory controls that reduce
the likelihood of an accident happening and better and more
effective emergency response plans and capabilities. Bill
Ruckelshaus recently said that the India situation underscores the
need for environmental protection and agencies like EPA doing their
job effectively. However, no set of laws or regulations, no matter
how well designed or enforced, will ever be a fool-proof system. We
must make sure that we take those actions which seem prudent and
reasonable to prevent such an occurrence and that we be prepared to
respond quickly and effectively should there be such an unlikely
event.
Q. What about Sen. Byrd's proposal? What is EPA's response?
A. Ser.. Byrd of West Virginia has made two requests of EPA. One i =.
to send a investigative team to India. We will go to India if the
State Dept. requests us to. He also requested EPA send a team to
the Institute, West Va. Union Carbide plant for a special safety
investigation, which EPA did Dec. 6.
Q. Have any Congressional hearings been called on this issue?
A. We understand that Congressman Gaydos of Pennsylvania has called
a hearing on Capitol Hill for Dec. 12, and that Cong. Waxman of
California has called a hearing in Institute, W. Va. on Dec. 14. So
far EPA has been invited to testify only at the Waxman hearing.
Q. Are any air emission rules appliable to the Indian situation?
A. MIC is not regulated as a hazardous air pollutant. The Clean
Air Act is normally concerned about stack emissions, and a faulty
tank would not necessarily fall within the body of existing
regulations. Also, at present, there volatile organic compounds are
also within EPA requirements at the plant.
(End)
-------
5 >-*x » ___ |.\O» -j"fe. ^!
o. co
M
Sr-j.hLliri
» ______
30
f»^ OUc-^t «\a^y
^^
-------
_ frto te~^f r~\
,. .rtw.
.._vA^
f_ H
v^y r
-------
M IC-
-------
*>Y _ C?
•'S-- is A.
UK £^ jb^-Aj^J A. r>>-^«- L^<^-^ jflA
\_4 __ i>^«_ clj^ig^, ^ i ^g- -f^o^ q u-o^cfc. .c-t/
/ ~4 ^AA^>v^QA-teU^. ^-v J)*«Cfl - »/ -M
fSj -& fa^j*^*> «. --
u..\ ___ psO-^-rJC L-rt _ A^c-.-M.^ r<-*?"^v-^M^ O >£-
y /H<> t*~, ,0 »
rJ^r l^a.. .a^Q
t^iJ' j
,jl — ut^^,.^.
,(4 1C- »A -^3> £*-»-*. cJ^&-t*i(-t~*-i yr<—r.""K»-yc.v y^«JLo>Jij_A
JO.(.-K, jjesd><*.i~~.
-------
THE NEW XOreK T-VuES, SA'S'JL'LMY. DLCF.MUER 8, 1984
U.S. System Is in Place
For Curbing Disasters
By PHILIP SHABECOFF
l to Tb« NV» York TlflMi
WASHINGTON. Dec. 7 — A highly
organized Federal emergency re-
sponse network now In place across the
country could contain, but not entirely
prevent, disasters of the kind caused by
the leak of lethal gas in India, Govern-
ment officials said today.
"Any time you deal with chemicals
there Is a risk, but the chance of Jt hap-
pening here is much less than in
India," said John J. Stanton, director
of the Environmental Prelection Agen-
cy's emergency response division. "We
are better able to respond quickly, to
evacuate people and come In with
cleanup operatit/ns."
Under a \natlonal jcontlngencv plan
prepared with the authority of the Fed"-
eral toxic waste cleanup law, the
E.P.A. and the United States Coast
Guard operate a \natlonal response
tcam^set up to deal with chemical
"splTrrtnd other environmental emer-
§encles. The Coast Guard is responsi-
le for emergencies in coastal areas
and the E.P.A. for those in inland
areas.
Offices Ready to'Respond
Each of the 10 regional offices of the
E.P.A. has 6 to 12 people who are
trained to respond to such emergencies
as spills of poisonous chemicals and
who are equipped with gear for protec-
tion, testing and containing the hazard.
The response teams can call-in experts
from other agencies, like the Centers
for Disease Control, the Defense De-
partment-and the Federal Emergency
Management Authority.
Private operators have been re-
tained across the country who are re-
quired by contract to be able to reach
the scene of any accident In their re-
gion withla one to tvrj hours through
the use of subcontractors able to deal
with chemical emergencies.
The E.P.A. has also eel up anjl
ronmeotal response center" in
i"envi- phone
Edison., The
NJ., starred oy scientists and engi-
neers who have the training to provide
information on chemicals and the
means to deal with such emergencies
In any pan of the country.
Nationally, the Federal emergency
system has dealt with about 500 chemi-
cal emergencies in the last throe years,
some of them potentially serious, ac-
cording to E.P.A. officials.
When a cloud of the pesticide mala-
thlon escaped from an American
Cyanamid plant in New Jersey and
drifted over Staten Island several
weeks ago. "we responded very quick-
ly," said Mr. Stanton of the E.P.A.
He said the Coast Guard "was out al-
most immediately, putting up a water
curtain" to act as a barrier against the
noxious cloud. The New Jersey state
response team, which Mr. Stanton said
was ooe of the best, also moved In.
Although more than ISO people ex-
posed to the cloud had to be treated, the
consequences could have been worse if
not for the rapid response, be said.
How It Would Respond.
Asked to describe what action would
be taken If a leak similar to the one in
India occurred at the Union Carbide
plant in Institute. W. Va., Thomas I.
Massey, chief of emergency response
for E.P.A. In the region, said be could
give only a "generic" answer. The
West Virginia plant makes methyl iso-
cyanate. the same chemical that has
killed more than 2,000 people In India
after It leaked from a Union Carbide
plant.
Mr. Massey said that under the
emergency plan, after the accident hafl
been noticed — by the company, the
local Fire Department or "some Boy
Scouts on a hike" — authorities would
call the National Emergency Response
Center operated by the Coast Guard in
Washington. The center takes all such
colls on chemical emergencies, wher-
ever they might occur in the United
States. The emerggacxjenter's tele-
phone number ls((800) 424-8801!) The
Is staffed 24
The center would immediately notify
the state Governor and the state's own
ejne£g£Q££rgfponse team. After that,
the E.P.A^s regional emergency re-
sponse team would De~noUfled and be-
gin an assessment. '.' '
------- |