Recognizing the 40th year since the 1984 Bhopal chemical disaster and helping to ensure that no other community suffers another chemical disaster, by supporting the designation of December 3 as National Chemical Disaster Awareness Day.
Environmental Protection
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Introduced on December 3, 2024 by Pramila Jayapal
Cosponsors
Legislation Details
- Recognizes the 40th anniversary of the 1984 Bhopal chemical disaster, which resulted in significant loss of life and long-term health impacts.
- Supports the designation of December 3 as National Chemical Disaster Awareness Day to promote awareness and prevention of chemical disasters.
- Highlights the legislative responses in the U.S. following the Bhopal disaster, including the Superfund Amendments, Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act, and Clean Air Act Amendments.
- Notes the ongoing risks posed by approximately 12,000 hazardous facilities in the U.S., affecting over 131 million people.
- References a 2008 incident in West Virginia that nearly resulted in a disaster similar to Bhopal.
- Reports on 445 hazardous chemical incidents in the U.S. from April 2021 to October 2024, including a significant train derailment in Ohio.
- Discusses the multigenerational health and economic impacts of the Bhopal disaster on survivors and their descendants.
- Mentions the lack of accountability for Union Carbide and its executives, including failed extradition attempts.
- Addresses the environmental racism faced by communities near hazardous facilities, particularly those predominantly inhabited by people of color.
- Calls for the U.S. Department of Justice to respond to requests from the Indian Government regarding accountability for the Bhopal disaster.
- Encourages engagement with Bhopal disaster survivors to raise public awareness about chemical disaster risks.
- Emphasizes the importance of human rights and non-discrimination in U.S. foreign policy, particularly in relation to vulnerable communities affected by chemical disasters.
Last updated 12/17/2024