News In Brief

Union Carbide fined $55,000 for West Virginia violations

Union Carbide Corporation was fined $55,000 last week for nine environmental violations at its South Charleston Technical Center, including illegal storage of hazardous waste, a state official said Sunday.

The state imposed the fine Friday after company officials voluntarily reported the rules violations. The disclosure preceded the methyl isocyanate leak at Union Carbide's plant in Bhopal, India, that killed more than 2,000 people.

Meanwhile, a freighter carrying 13 tons of methyl isocyanate left Rio de Janeiro yesterday for West Virginia. Brazil banned the chemical from entering Rio after the Bhopal tragedy.