[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 6, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 40599]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-15287]


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CHEMICAL SAFETY AND HAZARD INVESTIGATION BOARD


Sunshine Act Meeting

Time and Date: Thursday, July 15, 2004, at 10 a.m. EDT.

Place: General Services Administration Auditorium, 18th and F Streets, 
NW., Washington, DC 20006.

Status: Open to the public.

Matters to be Considered: The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation 
Board (CSB) is convening this public meeting in connection with its 
investigation of an explosion and fire that occurred in March 2004 at a 
Huntsman facility in Port Neches, Texas and, separately, its 
examination of the hazards associated with sodium hydrosulfide.
    At this meeting CSB staff will present to the Board a safety 
bulletin based on the investigation of the Huntsman incident. The key 
issue examined in the bulletin is the removal of hazardous liquids in 
piping systems. The bulletin briefly explains the facts of the Huntsman 
incident, describes the incident causes, and reviews lessons learned.
    CSB staff will also present to the Board a safety bulletin on the 
hazards associated with sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), a chemical used in 
a variety of industries, including the leather tanning and pulp and 
paper industries. NaHS can cause severe burns and has a propensity to 
produce toxic hydrogen sulfide gas, which has resulted in a number of 
worker fatalities. The bulletin is intended to increase awareness of 
the hazards of NaHS and to outline safety practices to minimize the 
potential for harm to workers and the public. The bulletin also 
includes brief case studies of selected incidents involving NaHS.
    After the staff presentations the Board will allow time for public 
comment. Following the conclusion of the comment period, the Board will 
consider whether to vote to approve the two safety bulletins.
    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 the cases. Factual analyses, conclusions, or findings 
contained in the staff presentations should not be considered final. 
Only after the Board has considered the staff presentations and 
approved the staff reports will the safety bulletins be final Board 
products.
    The meeting will also include a brief presentation on activity in 
the CSB recommendations program.
    This meeting will be open to the public. Please notify CSB if a 
translator or interpreter is needed, at least five (5) business days 
prior to the meeting.
    Individuals attending this meeting should plan to arrive 20 to 30 
minutes before the scheduled start time in order to be processed 
through the building's security screening.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Horowitz, (202) 261-7600.

    Dated: June 30, 2004.
Christopher W. Warner,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 04-15287 Filed 6-30-04; 4:38 pm]
BILLING CODE 6350-01-P