[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 175 (Wednesday, September 10, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 53344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-23174]


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CHEMICAL SAFETY AND HAZARD INVESTIGATION BOARD


Sunshine Act Meeting

    In connection with its investigation into a building fire explosion 
at Kaltech Industries Group, Inc., which injured 31 people, including 
14 persons who were not employed by Kaltech on April 25, 2002, the 
United States Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board announces 
that it will convene a Public Meeting beginning at 9:30 a.m. local time 
on September 30, at the Hilton New York, 1335 Avenue of Americas, New 
York, New York 10018.
    The incident originated in space leased by Kaltech Industries Group 
Inc. in a mixed occupancy building in a densely populated area of the 
Chelsea district of New York City. Kaltech manufactures architectural 
quality signs and letters. Kaltech generates hazardous waste during the 
course of normal operations and is designated as a Large Quantity Waste 
Generator under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Resource 
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976. On the day of the 
incident Kaltech employees had just finished consolidating hazardous 
waste from smaller containers into two large drums. The waste was 
incompatible with each other and an explosion occurred. Key issues 
involved in this investigation concern hazard communication, hazardous 
waste handling and municipal oversight.
    At the meeting CSB staff will present to the Board the results of 
their investigation into this incident, including an analysis of the 
incident together with a discussion of the key 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 incident originated in space leased by Kaltech Industries Group 
Inc. in a mixed occupancy building in a densely populated area of the 
Chelsea district of New York City. Kaltech manufactures architectural 
quality signs and letters. Kaltech generates hazardous waste during the 
course of normal operations and is designated as a Large Quantity Waste 
Generator under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Resource 
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976. On the day of the 
incident Kaltech employees had just finished consolidating hazardous 
waste from smaller containers into two large drums. The waste was 
incompatible with each other and an explosion occurred. Key issues 
involved in this investigation concern hazard communication, hazardous 
waste handling and municipal oversight.
    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: www.csb.gov.

Christopher W. Warner,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 03-23174 Filed 9-8-03; 12:55 pm]
BILLING CODE 6350-01-P