“DISCOVERY” DOCUMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL
NEERI report executive summary 1994
NEERI report executive summary 1997
LEGAL
Bhopal case First Information Report (FIR)
Key source documents in the unheard case against UCC
The case against Union Carbide Corporation by Michael V. Ciresi
MEDICAL
POLITICAL (India)
Confidential minutes of meeting of Group of Ministers on Bhopal, June 2010
2009
Letter from US Members of Congress to Dow Chemical, June 16, 2009 Letter from Members of Congress marking the 25th anniversary of the Union Carbide gas disaste and asking Dow Chemical to accept its inherited liabilities in Bhopal
2006
Report from US India CEO Forum, March 2006, convened in 2005 by President George Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The document outlines plans for economic partnership and identifies obstacles. P13: “Specific focus on resolving legacy issues such as those impacting Dow/ Bhopal tragedy of 1984 … would send a strong positive signal to US investors.” Document sourced from: http://www.planningcommission.nic.in/reports/genrep/USIndia.pdf
POLITICAL (US)
Emails relating to India’s request for the extradition of Warren Anderson
US intelligence report from Mumbai, July 26, 2004
Foia_13_India_will_request_extradition.pdf
Foia_221_Articles_or_emails-1.pdf
Email from Burson-Marsteller to Dow and Carbide PR people
Warren Anderson should not be extradited to India
Report from US India CEO Forum, March 2006, convened in 2005 by President George Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The document outlines plans for economic partnership and identifies obstacles. P13: “Specific focus on resolving legacy issues such as those impacting Dow/ Bhopal tragedy of 1984 … would send a strong positive signal to US investors.” Document sourced from: http://www.planningcommission.nic.in/reports/genrep/USIndia.pdf
Letter from US Members of Congress to Dow Chemical, June 16, 2009 Letter from Members of Congress marking the 25th anniversary of the Union Carbide gas disaste and asking Dow Chemical to accept its inherited liabilities in Bhopal
UNION CARBIDE (pre-merger with Dow)
Union Carbide proposal for building an MIC plant in Bhopal Includes the pages which reveal that important technology was “unproven”. 49 pages.
Excerpt from May 1982 safety audit of the Bhopal plant by US engineers
Export-Import Bank of the United States documents
Union Carbide Eastern assessment of the failing UCIL factory in Bhopal
September 1984 Safety Survey of MIC unit at Institute, West Virginia
UNION CARBIDE/DOW
Dow-Union Carbide Corporation Merger document
These documents were obtained via the ‘discovery process’ in a class action suit brought by victims of water contamination against Union Carbide Corporation in New York.
There are five hundred and eighty four (584) pages of private memos, letters, telexes and press cuttings, presented here in the order they were placed by Union Carbide. They need reorganising by date and subject. The work of cataloguing them all and putting them on the site will take some time, but work in progress can be seen below.
BOX 1
PoisonPapers1 1.pdf
Page 2 of undated letter from C.K. Harayan, Resident General Manager of EIIL (Eveready Industries India Limited) referring to quantities of Sevin residue and Naphthol tar on the site (44.55 and 2.54 metric tonnes respectively) and referring peevishly to IICT Hyderabad work on which he has not had a progress report.
PoisonPapers1 2.pdf
June 23, 1998, From C.K. Harayan at Eveready to MPPCB’s Chief Scientific Officer Dr P.C. Seth in reply to the latter’s letters 10715 dated 18.6.98 and 8351 dated 14.5.98. The work of closing the landfill is nearing completion and monsoon allowing will be finished within a month. The secured landfill is constructed only on one part of Pond III. Mentions writing to four laboratories about doing chemical analyses of soil and water based on NEERI parameters. The four are, NEERI, Nagpur, IICT, Hyderabad, ITRC Lucknow and NCL, Pune.
PoisonPapers1 3.pdf
June 22, 1998. Harayan’s letter, mentioned above, Eveready to NEERI, IICT, ITRC and NCL about chemical analysis of soil and water samples from in and around the Solar Evaporation Ponds. Samples are to be collected under the supervision of MPPCB officials. The targeted properties and elements of the samples (as per NEERI report) are enclosed.
PoisonPapers1 4.pdf
The parameters to be analysed. Targets were calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, sulphate, organic carbon, nitrate, carbaryl and alpha naphthol.
PoisonPapers1 5.pdf
June 22, 1998. Harayan, Eveready to ITRC Lucknow, inviting them to analyse soil and water samples from the Solar Evaporation Ponds. Parameters enclosed.
PoisonPapers1 6.pdf
The parameters to be analysed. Targets were calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, sulphate, organic carbon, nitrate, carbaryl and alpha naphthol.
PoisonPapers1 7.pdf
15 June 1998. “Inspection Report on the Progress of Solar Evaporation Ponds at EIIL, Bhopal” by R Swaminathan. He visited the site between April 20, 1998 – June 15, 1998. Details of work included laying LPDE sheets, covering with clay, laying network of perforated PVC pipes, covering with gravel and fine sand and final clay cover. The work was found to comply with the specifications given in NEERI’s November 1992 report.
PoisonPapers1 8.pdf
June18, 1998, Dr P.C. Seth of M.P. Pradushan Niyantran (MPPCB) to Harayan in EIIL. In Hindi. Letter 8351 referred to in #2 above, reminding him that the Board had ordered testing to be carried out and asking him to get it done within a month and keep the Board informed of progress.
PoisonPapers1 9.pdf
June 6, 1998. Press cutting from Madhya Pradesh Chronicle. TANK LEVELLING WORK STOPPED BY GOVERNMENT. “The Minister for Local Self Government has issued orders to the officers concerned to stop illegal levelling of tanks in Union Carbide premises containing chemical waste with immediate effect.”
PoisonPapers1 10.pdf
Ditto Dainik Bhaskar in Hindi, June 6 1998
PoisonPapers1 11.pdf
June 4, 1998. Inspection Report, Joshi and Associates. Finds some materials needed for the work of closing the landfill missing, others “not up to the mark”, work not properly done. The work would have to be concluded speedily as rain was expected in 15 days.
PoisonPapers1 12.pdf
June 4, 1998. National Mail. UCC DUMPING TOXIC CHEMICALS IN PONDS
PoisonPapers1 13.pdf
June 3, 1998. MP Chronicle. TOXIC REMAINS IN UC PREMISES BEING COVERED UP. Sangathan leader Abdul Jabbar warn of danger to ground water citing pungent smelling water in Atal Ayub Nagar and J.P. Nagar.
PoisonPapers1 14.pdf
May 14, 1998. Upmanyu, Member Secretary of MPPCB to Harayan at EIIL. In Hindi. Noting that sediments from ponds 1, 2 and 3 have been spread in pond 3. and expressing the worry that the imminent monsoon rains would fill the drained ponds and that surrounding areas could run the risk of being contaminated.
PoisonPapers1 15.pdf
STUDIES ON THE SAFE DISPOSAL OF SEVIN AND NAPHTHOL TAR RESIDUES LYING IN THE PREMISES OF MS EIL FORMERLY MS UCIL, BHOPAL. This report by the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, covers pages 15 – 119.
PoisonPapers1 16.pdf
Contents
PoisonPapers1 17.pdf
Undated letter from K.V. Raghavan of IICT Hyderabad to MPPCB announcing completion of the report.
PoisonPapers1 18.pdf
Undated letter from Dr Sajid Hussain of IICT Hyderabad to MPCCB, attaching report. Referring to MPPCB letter of Sept 15, 1997 asking for the report, upon receipt of which the final instalment of 2.5 lakhs could be released. Recommends a dedicated incinerator.
PoisonPapers1 19.pdf
PoisonPapers1 20.pdf
PoisonPapers1 21.pdf
PoisonPapers1 22.pdf
PoisonPapers1 23.pdf
Introduction to IICT report
PoisonPapers1 24.pdf
PoisonPapers1 25.pdf
Collection of samples and characterisation of residues
PoisonPapers1 26.pdf
Table 1 – Proximate analysis of Sevin and Naphthol tar residues
PoisonPapers1 27.pdf
Table II – Ultimate analysis of above
PoisonPapers1 28.pdf
Table III – Physical properties of the tars
PoisonPapers1 29.pdf
Table IV – Solubility
PoisonPapers1 30.pdf
Table V – Presence of other elements
PoisonPapers1 31.pdf
PoisonPapers1 32.pdf
PoisonPapers1 33.pdf
PoisonPapers1 34.pdf
PoisonPapers1 35.pdf
Charts detailing results
PoisonPapers1 36.pdf
Studies on treatment methods
PoisonPapers1 37.pdf
Treatability train, 7 possibilities
PoisonPapers1 38.pdf
Chemical treatment
PoisonPapers1 39.pdf
Table VI
PoisonPapers1 40.pdf
PoisonPapers1 41.pdf
Table VII
PoisonPapers1 42.pdf
Table VIII
PoisonPapers1 43.pdf
Table IX
PoisonPapers1 44.pdf
Electro-oxidation
PoisonPapers1 45.pdf
PoisonPapers1 46.pdf
Table X
PoisonPapers1 47.pdf
Table XI
PoisonPapers1 48.pdf
Table XII
PoisonPapers1 49.pdf
PoisonPapers1 50.pdf
Reverse osmosis
PoisonPapers1 51.pdf
Table XIII
PoisonPapers1 52.pdf
Biodegradation
PoisonPapers1 53.pdf
PoisonPapers1 54.pdf
Charts of reaction
PoisonPapers1 54.pdf
PoisonPapers1 56.pdf
Chart XIV results
PoisonPapers1 57.pdf
Thermogram Alpha Naphthol
PoisonPapers1 58.pdf
Thermogram naphthol tar
PoisonPapers1 59.pdf
Thermogram Sevin tar
PoisonPapers1 60.pdf
Pyrogram of naphthol at 590˚C
PoisonPapers1 61.pdf
MS spectrum peak
PoisonPapers1 62.pdf
PoisonPapers1 63.pdf
Compounds from pyrolysis of Sevin tar at 590˚C
PoisonPapers1 64.pdf
Pyrogram of sevin tar at 590˚C
PoisonPapers1 65.pdf
MS spectrum peak
PoisonPapers1 66.pdf
Diagram for design of a dedicated incinerator
PoisonPapers1 68.pdf
Compounds from pyrolysis of naphthol at 590˚C
PoisonPapers1 69.pdf
Collaborative work with NEERI
PoisonPapers1 70.pdf
Chromatogram of extracted Sevin tar sample sent by NEERI
PoisonPapers1 71.pdf
Chromatogram of extracted Naphthol tar sample sent by NEERI
PoisonPapers1 72.pdf
PoisonPapers1 73.pdf
Conclusions
PoisonPapers1 74.pdf
Proposal for undertaking work for MPPCB
PoisonPapers1 75.pdf
Annexure I (report that follows)
PoisonPapers1 76.pdf
REPORT ON THE ANALYSIS OF SEVIN AND NAPHTHOL TAR RESIDUES
<strongPoisonPapers1 77.pdf
Contents
PoisonPapers1 78.pdf
Confirmatory accompanying letter
PoisonPapers1 79.pdf
Plan of work
PoisonPapers1 80.pdf
PoisonPapers1 81.pdf
PoisonPapers1 82.pdf
Determination of Naphthol content
PoisonPapers1 83.pdf
PoisonPapers1 84.pdf
PoisonPapers1 85.pdf
Specific gravity
PoisonPapers1 86.pdf
Table 1
PoisonPapers1 87.pdf
Table 2
PoisonPapers1 88.pdf
Table 3
PoisonPapers1 89.pdf
December 17, 1989. Letter from Mr Khare of MPPCB to the Director, Regional Research Lab, Hyderabad, referring to letter received from Mr M.S. Murty, Advisor (Chemicals), Government of India Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Delhi. The letter was sent via the MPPCB and seems to have inspired them to snap into action. Murty’s letter (below) orders MPPCB/UCIL to send samples of Sevin and Naphthol tars to RRL Hyderabad for extremely urgent analysis. MPPCB’s letter confirms it is sending the samples and says they should be analysed “on lines suggested” by Murthy. The matter is so urgent that the work should begin before there is even time to draw up a contract and agree payment amounts. A handwritten note added to the letter informs Dr Sajid Hussain that the Director wished to discuss the matter with him on December 31, 1989.
PoisonPapers1 90.pdf
Procedure for determination of naphthol in naphthol and sevin tar samples
PoisonPapers1 91.pdf
Detemination of methanol and other insoluble matter
PoisonPapers1 92.pdf
Extraction of naphthol from sevin tar residue
PoisonPapers1 93.pdf
December 14, 1989. Letter from Murthy at GoI Ministry of Industry, Dept of Chemicals and Petrochemicals giving decisions of a meeting at which were present: Dr S. Vardarajan, Shri Shyamal(?) Ghosh (Joint Secretary, Bhopal Gas Relief Departpment, GoMP), Dr G. Sundaram (Joint Secretary, GoI Dept of Environment) and Shri V.N. Kaul (Secretary, GoMP). The tests for Naphthol residue to be performed were for: i) methyl carbamate acid (ii) 1-naptha phenol (iii) 1-Napthol amine (iv) Napthol dicarbamate (v) specific gravity (vi) viscosity (vii) corrosive properties (viii) mixability (?) with coal tar at 70˚-80˚centigrade (ix) any release of poisonous gas at 80˚ centigrade.
PoisonPapers1 94.pdf
High toxicity of samples, handwritten chart
PoisonPapers1 95.pdf
Acute toxicity of Naphthol tar study carried out on Tilapia mossambica fish
PoisonPapers1 96.pdf
Acute toxicity of Sevin tar study carried out on Tilapia mossambica fish
PoisonPapers1 97.pdf
Naphthol mortality chart
PoisonPapers1 98.pdf
Sevin mortality chart
PoisonPapers1 99.pdf
Acute toxicity study of Sevin tar on T mossambica fish
PoisonPapers1 100.pdf
Sevin mortality chart
PoisonPapers1 101.pdf
[Indecipherable] Naphthol reaction with ether
PoisonPapers1 102.pdf
PoisonPapers1 103.pdf
Charts of gas analysis
PoisonPapers1 104.pdf
Annexure II
PoisonPapers1 105.pdf
Interim Report on Disposal of Hazardous Waste
PoisonPapers1 106.pdf.
Preamble refers to letter rec’d by writer 1.1.89???
PoisonPapers1 107.pdf
results of proximate and ultimate analyses
PoisonPapers1 108.pdf
Specially fabricated apparatus
PoisonPapers1 109.pdf
Table 3. Combustion of Naphthol tar
PoisonPapers1 110.pdf
Table 4 Combustion of Sevin tar
PoisonPapers1 111.pdf
experiments in an open blatta
PoisonPapers1 112.pdf
important considerations
PoisonPapers1 113.pdf
collaborating engineering companies
PoisonPapers1 114.pdf
Re rec’d Sevin samples mentions letter of 16 May 98 says can’t be analysed using previous methods, further work to be planned
PoisonPapers1 115.pdf
[Indecipherable]
PoisonPapers1 116.pdf
apparatus diagram fig 1, ref p108
PoisonPapers1 117.pdf
Annexure III
PoisonPapers1 118.pdf
Chemical treatment, electro-oxidation
PoisonPapers1 119.pdf
Title of project, scope of work
PoisonPapers1 120.pdf
PoisonPapers1 121.pdf
MPPCB to EIIL 5.2.99 pinning responsibiity for clean up on them, signed VK Jain
PoisonPapers1 122.pdf
PoisonPapers1 123.pdf
Review meeting with MPPCB on 1.4.98 states that material had been quietly taken away and buried in various govt “nurseries” scattered all over – five lakhs changes hands
PoisonPapers1 124.pdf
PoisonPapers1 125.pdf
EIIL Harayan reply to MPPCB Jain p120 letter washes hands of site. Rejects polluter pays liability, which predates Hazardous Waste Rules 1989
PoisonPapers1 126.pdf
Harayan to District Industries Centre. April 21 1998.
PoisonPapers1 127.pdf
p2 List of buildings in use***
PoisonPapers1 128.pdf
June 29, 1998. Letter in Hindi from DIC to EIIL requiring them to surrender the site in ten days’ time, on 10 July 1998,
PoisonPapers1 129.pdf
PoisonPapers1 130.pdf
PoisonPapers1 131.pdf
MPPCB petition to High Court Jabalpur reporting the handover and asking Court to direct DIC to make Union Carbide Bhopal pay up. Also cites possibility of groundwater contamination “after about 23 years”.
PoisonPapers1 132.pdf
Oct 20, 1992. Norman Gaines announces his early retirement , one day before he clears his desk. To S. Bose of UCIL
PoisonPapers1 133.pdf
Gokhale /UCIL logo
PoisonPapers1 134.pdf
July 28, 1992. Vijay Gokhaleof UCIL to Bose, Basu, re pending ADL fees, Langseth fees. Refers to proposed Langseth (David Langseth of ADL) site visit in August 92, doubts whether Bose/CPL(??) feel the site is conducive to such a visit. Refers to Bose visit to NY in Sept and a forthcoming meeting in Singapore.
PoisonPapers1 135.pdf
PoisonPapers1 136.pdf
PoisonPapers1 137.pdf
PoisonPapers1 138.pdf
Memo April 6, 1982 from MD Buckingham UCAP to Norm Gaines at UCC and UCIL managers. About the two sites in Bhopal, the 65 acre factory site and 34 acre site containing three solar evaporation ponds. “Both sites remain essentially as they were in December 1984.” Clean up standards to be determined by NEERI/ADL and be acceptable to GoI. Site leases to be relinquished as soon as feasible. “Credibility” is to be maintained with NEERI, GoI and MP state agencies. C.K. Harayan, UCIL’s plant manager is to the US for training mid 1992.
PoisonPapers1 139.pdf
Site Rehab Action steps July 28, 1992
PoisonPapers1 140.pdf
March 30,1992. UCIL’s Bose to UCC’s Gaines, referring to meeting in Singapore on Mar 17, 1992, gives results of analysis of well water outside the factory including R and C presumably the two wells in Atal Ayub Nagar, which has just come up. The wells are ‘unstable’. V5 is contaminated.
PoisonPapers1 141.pdf
Chart, V5 smells strongly of napthaline, 100/100 mortality of fish (percentage deaths after 24 and 48 hrs).
PoisonPapers1 142.pdf
PoisonPapers1 143.pdf
PoisonPapers1 144.pdf
Assessment of contamination in land-fill areas. Several samples produce 100/100 mortality of fish
PoisonPapers1 145.pdf
Gaines to Langseth April 24, 1992, attaching pp141-4
PoisonPapers1 146.pdf
Report: Internal Investigations of Ground Water and Soil at UCIL Bhopal plant premises, by Harayan and Kanhere, August 7, 1992 (This shows that Harayan switched seamlessly from UCIL to EIIL)
PoisonPapers1 147.pdf
Report, Objective, Background, Need for Investigation
PoisonPapers1 148.pdf
Scope of Investigation, Assessment of Land Environment
PoisonPapers1 149.pdf
Bio assay test giving method used and killing carp cuprinus(sic) carpio
PoisonPapers1 150.pdf
Hydrogeological study, borewells
PoisonPapers1 151.pdfPoisonPapers1 151.pdf
Analysis, Results
PoisonPapers1 152.pdf
Chart of wells and analysis outside pond boundary wall, showing 2 wells in Garib Nagar near the Solar Evaporation Ponds
PoisonPapers1 153.pdf
Table 1. Products produced at site, dates and quantities
PoisonPapers1 154.pdf
PoisonPapers1 155.pdf
Table 2. Material consumption 1975-1984
PoisonPapers1 156.pdf
Assessment of contaminants in landfill
PoisonPapers1 157.pdf
Tubewell samples
PoisonPapers1 158.pdf
Factory plan diagram showing location of soil and water samples
PoisonPapers1 159.pdf
Tubewell V-5a construction details diagram
PoisonPapers1 160.pdf
Tubewell V-13a construction details
PoisonPapers1 161.pdf
November 23, 1992. From Harayan to Bose. V-5a and V-13a had not been bio-assayed for want of fish. Now it has been done and he attaches updated charts of results.
PoisonPapers1 162.pdf
V-5a is 100/100 deadly, V-13a two samples, nil/nil
PoisonPapers1 163.pdf
Factory plan again, someone has circled Temik disposal site
PoisonPapers1 164.pdf
PoisonPapers1 165.pdf
Memo to Gaines from Mike Buckingham of UCAP ANWGDV1 (?) April 26, 1992 revealing matter was discussed in Danbury on April 3, 1992. Bose, who is in town (Singapore?) wants further review of NEERI draft specifications and wants David Langseth to visit in August. UCIL’s C.K. Harayan to receive training in the US.
PoisonPapers1 166.pdf
Jan 21, 1993. Gokhale to Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
PoisonPapers1 167.pdf
PoisonPapers1 168.pdf
Gokhale to CBI June 29, 1993 announcing plans to conduct a study and begin dismantling parts of the plant, non-MIC areas, acknowledges deterioration of plant structures. Everything has been lying “as is where is” for the past eight years.
PoisonPapers1 169.pdf
CBI to Gokhale July 20, 1993 not wanting the CBI to be made a party to anything UCIL does at the site
BOX II
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