[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 168 (Friday, August 29, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51963-51964]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-22237]


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CHEMICAL SAFETY AND HAZARD INVESTIGATION BOARD


Sunshine Act Meeting

    In connection with its investigation into the cause of a deadly 
flash fire at an oilfield waste recovery facility south of Houston, 
which killed two workers and injured three others on Monday, January 
13, 2003, the United States Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation 
Board announces that it will convene a Public Meeting beginning at 9:30 
am local time on September 17, at the George Washington University 
Conference Center's Third Floor Amphitheater, 800 21st Street, NW., 
Washington, DC.
    The accident occurred at the BLSR Operating Ltd. petroleum storage 
and separation facility on Route 521 in Rosharon, TX. The CSB is an 
independent federal agency charged with determining root causes of 
chemical accidents and making recommendations to prevent their 
recurrence.
    The CSB will also hear presentation on a case study on a hydrogen 
sulfide exposure incident that occurred December 11, 2002 at the 
Environmental Enterprises, Inc. facility in Cincinnati, Ohio. One 
injury was reported. Using the incorrect vessel for waste treatment 
caused the hydrogen sulfide exposure.
    At the meeting CSB staff will present to the Board the results of 
their investigations into these incidents, including an analysis of the 
incident together with a discussion of the key

[[Page 51964]]

findings, root and contributing causes, and draft recommendations.
    Recommendations are issued by a vote of the Board and address an 
identified safety deficiency uncovered during the investigation, and 
specify how to correct the situation. Safety recommendations are the 
primary tool used by the Board to motivate implementation of safety 
improvements and prevent future incidents. The CSB uses its unique 
independent accident investigation perspective to identify trends or 
issues that might otherwise be overlooked. CSB recommendations may be 
directed to corporations, trade associations, government entities, 
safety organizations, labor unions and others.
    After the staff presentation, the Board will allow a time for 
public comment. Following the conclusion of the public comment period, 
the Board will consider whether to vote to approve the final report and 
recommendations. When a report and its recommendations are approved, 
this will begin CSB's process for disseminating the findings and 
recommendations of the report not only to the recipients of 
recommendations but also to other public and industry sectors. The CSB 
believes that this process will ultimately lead to the adoption of 
recommendations and the growing body of safety knowledge in the 
industry, which, in turn, should save future lives and property.
    All staff presentations are preliminary and are intended solely to 
allow the Board to consider in a public forum the issues and factors 
involved in this case. No factual analyses, conclusions or findings 
should be considered final. Only after the Board has considered the 
staff presentation and approved the staff report will there be an 
approved final record of this incident.
    The meeting will be open to the public. Please notify CSB if a 
translator or interpreter is needed, at least 5 business days prior to 
the public meeting. For more information, please contact the Chemical 
Safety and Hazard Investigation Board at (202)-261-7600, or visit our 
Web site at: http://www.csb.gov.

Christopher W. Warner,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 03-22237 Filed 8-26-03; 4:31 pm]
BILLING CODE 6350-01-P