[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 191 (Tuesday, October 4, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57854-57855]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-20022]


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CHEMICAL SAFETY AND HAZARD INVESTIGATION BOARD


Sunshine Act Meeting

    In connection with its investigation into the cause of an explosion 
and fire which occurred at BP's Texas City refinery on March 23, 2005, 
the United States Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) 
announces that it will convene a community meeting starting at 6 p.m. 
at the Charles T. Doyle Convention Center, 2010 5th Avenue North, Texas 
City, Texas 77590. At the meeting CSB staff will present to the Board 
the preliminary results of their investigation into this incident. 
There will be a public comment period after the investigators' 
presentation.
    At approximately 1:20 p.m. on Wednesday, March 23rd, a series of 
explosions occurred at the BP Texas City refinery during the restarting 
of a hydrocarbon isomerization unit. Fifteen workers were killed and 
about 170 others were injured. Many of the victims were in or around 
work trailers located near a blowdown drum and stack that were open to 
the atmosphere. The explosions occurred when a distillation tower 
flooded with hydrocarbons and was overpressurized, resulting in a 
release of flammable hydrocarbons from the blowdown stack. 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 the preliminary facts presented necessitate any 
recommendations prior to the final completion of the Board's 
investigative report.
    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

[[Page 57855]]

findings should be considered final. Only after the Board has 
considered a final staff presentation and approved the staff report 
next year 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: www.csb.gov.

Christopher W. Warner,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 05-20022 Filed 9-30-05; 3:35 pm]
BILLING CODE 6350-01-P