Latest Bhopal developments mixed for Carbide Last week in mixed developments related to the aftermath of the Bhopal, India, gas-leak disaster, Union Carbide learned to its relief that its auditors will not qualify the company's 1984 financial statement. Less pleasant for the company, a French government study reportedly criticized safety procedures at Carbide's methyl isocyanate-consuming pesticide plant in Beziers, France. And the government of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh (of which Bhopal is the capital) reportedly revoked the operating license of the Bhopal facility, run by Union Carbide India Ltd. The French study a p p a r e n t l y questions the ability of the Beziers plant's management to warn area residents of a toxic gas leak. In addition, the review is said to request tighter control on shipments of MIC to the facility. Only a small amount of MIC is left at the plant now. Although it is reported that the Bhopal plant's operating license was revoked, Carbide says it expired at the end of 1984 and that UCIL continues to seek renewal. A spokes-
man says it is uncertain whether Madyha Pradesh means to make the expiration permanent. In addition, he says, the company has received n o w o r d from t h e g o v e r n m e n t confirming accounts that the alleged revocation was intended to clear the way for demolition of the plant. In the U.S., where Carbide currently faces more than two score personal injury lawsuits stemming from the Bhopal accident, March 12 was set for the initial hearing of pretrial legal issues. The hearing will take place in federal district court in Manhattan. To prepare for that, some 80 attorneys r e p r e s e n t i n g Bhopal victims have chosen leading lawyers from among their ranks to head a steering committee on the litigation. Still unclear are the intentions of the Indian government in the case. Two weeks ago India passed an ordinance empowering it to file a lawsuit in the U.S. against Union Carbide on behalf of the Bhopal victims (C&EN, Feb. 25, page 18), but at press time it had still not disclosed whether it would actually do so. D
of theory to organic and inorganic chemistry that have brought together the world community of chemists. • George C. Pimentel of the University of California, Berkeley, for his varied and ingenious use of infrared spectroscopy to study chemical bonding and molecular dynamics. • Richard N. Zare of Stanford University, for his seminal work in molecular spectroscopy, photochemistry, and reaction dynamics. Three other chemists were honored for their contributions in the biological sciences—Howard L. Bachrach, retired from the Department of Agriculture, for his pioneering research in molecular virology; Paul
National Medal of Science given to six chemists For the third time in less than a month, the White House has honored science and technology. The most recent, occurring last week, marked the presentation of the National Medal of Science to, as President Reagan put it, "19 Americans who have made outstanding contributions to our way of life and our future." In his speech, the President noted that his Administration is planning increased funding for science and technology and basic research through the end of the decade. "And," he said, "that's because what you do is that important. The ultimate source of innovation, of new technology, of human progress itself, is knowledge. And that's the business of science." Three scientists were honored specifically for their contributions in chemistry: • Roald Hoffmann of Cornell University, for his creative applications
National Medal of Science winners Zare (above), Pimentel (above right), and Hoffmann March 4, 1985 C&EN
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