[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 13, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 52709]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-20668]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

CHEMICAL SAFETY AND HAZARD INVESTIGATION BOARD


Sunshine Act Meeting: Public Hearing; Motiva Enterprise's 
Delaware City Refinery (DCR) Incident (July 17, 2001)

AGENCY: U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB).

ACTION: Notice announcing Sunshine Act public hearing.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The CSB is planning to hold a public hearing to review a staff 
report concerning an incident that occurred at Motiva Enterprise's 
Delaware City Refinery (DCR) on July 17, 2001. The staff will present 
its findings and analysis of the incident and submit its report and 
recommendations to the Board for approval.

DATES: The Public Hearing will be held on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 
from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Wilmington/Christiana Hilton Hotel, 100 
Continental Drive, Newark, DE.

PRE-REGISTRATION: The event is open to the public and there is no fee 
for attendance. However, attendees are strongly encouraged to pre-
register, to ensure adequate seating arrangements. To pre-register, 
please email your name and affiliation by August 24, 2002, to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Heller, Office of Investigations 
and Safety Programs, 202.261.7682 or e-mail at: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 17, 2001, an explosion occurred at 
Motiva Enterprise's Delaware City Refinery (DCR) in Delaware City, 
Delaware. Jeffrey Davis, a boilermaker with The Washington Group, a 
Motiva maintenance contractor, was killed, and 8 others were injured. A 
crew of contract workers had been repairing grating on a catwalk in an 
acid storage tank farm when a spark from their hot work ignited 
flammable vapors in one of the storage tanks. The tank separated from 
its floor, releasing its contents instantaneously. Other tanks in the 
tank farm area also released their contents. A fire burned for 
approximately one-half hour and sulfuric acid reached the Delaware 
River, resulting in significant damage to aquatic life.
    Because of the serious nature of this incident, the U.S. Chemical 
Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) launched an investigation 
to determine the root and contributing causes and to issue 
recommendations to help prevent similar occurrences. Key issues to be 
addressed in the report concern: mechanical integrity, engineering 
management, management of change, and hot work systems.

Raymnd C. Porfiri
Deputy General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 02-20668 Filed 8-9-02; 3:07 pm]
BILLING CODE 6350-01-P