[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 194 (Tuesday, October 7, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57866-57867]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-25564]


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CHEMICAL SAFETY AND HAZARD INVESTIGATION BOARD


Sunshine Act Meeting

    In connection with its investigation into a violent explosion that 
occurred in a chemical distillation tower at First Chemical Corporation 
in Pascagoula, Mississippi, on October 13, 2002, the United States 
Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board announces that it will 
convene a Public Meeting beginning at 9:30 am Eastern Standard time on 
October 15, at the LaFont Inn, Highway 90, Pascagoula, Mississippi 
39595.
    The explosion occurred in a chemical distillation tower, sending 
heavy debris over a wide area. No one was seriously injured or killed 
in the incident, which occurred early on a Sunday morning. One 
nitrotoluene storage tank at the site was punctured by explosion 
debris, igniting a fire that burned for several hours. Three out of the 
23 workers on site at the time of the incident received minor injuries, 
and nearby residents were temporarily sheltered in place. A producer of 
aniline and nitrotoluene derivatives and intermediates, First Chemical 
Corp. is a subsidiary of ChemFirst Inc., which was acquired by Dupont 
after the accident.
    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.

[[Page 57867]]

    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 Lyon,
Attorney Advisor.
[FR Doc. 03-25564 Filed 10-3-03; 3:54 pm]
BILLING CODE 6350-01-P