News Releases

CSB Releases Board Voting Information and Board Orders on CSB.gov

Jan 08, 2010

Washington, DC, January 8, 2010 – As part of an ongoing effort to increase transparency and promote public understanding of the agency’s work, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) today began publishing voting records of the Board and copies of Board orders that govern agency operations.

CSB Issues Urgent Recommendations to CITGO; Finds Inadequate Hydrogen Fluoride Water Mitigation System during Corpus Christi Refinery Fire Last July

Dec 09, 2009

Houston, Texas, December 9, 2009 – The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) today issued urgent safety recommendations calling on CITGO to immediately improve its emergency water mitigation system in the event of another release of potentially deadly hydrogen fluoride (HF) vapor, as occurred following an explosion and fire July 19, 2009, at CITGO’s Corpus Christi refinery. The Board also called on CITGO to perform third-party audits to ensure the safety of its hydrogen fluoride units at its Corpus Christi, Texas, and Lemont, Illinois, refineries.

CSB Investigative Team to Examine Fatal Explosion at NDK America Inc. near Rockford, Illinois

Dec 08, 2009

Washington, DC, December 8, 2009 – The U.S. Chemical Safety Board is deploying an investigation team to the site of an explosion that occurred Monday afternoon at the NDK America Inc. plant, a manufacturer of quartz crystals in Belvidere, Illinois, approximately 60 miles northwest of Chicago.

Statements of CSB Chairman John Bresland and CSB Investigations Supervisor Don Holmstrom Updating the Public on the Investigation of the Nov. 4 Explosion at the Silver Eagle Refinery in Woods Cross, Utah - November 17, 2009

Nov 17, 2009

Statements of CSB Chairman John Bresland and CSB Investigations Supervisor Don Holmstrom Updating the Public on the Investigation of the Nov. 4 Explosion at the Silver Eagle Refinery in Woods Cross, Utah

CSB Conducting Full Investigation of Massive Tank Fire at Caribbean Petroleum Refining; Investigative Team Plans to Thoroughly Examine Facility Safety Practices

Nov 17, 2009

Bayamon, PR, November 17, 2009 – The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) today announced that it will be conducting a full investigation of the October 23, 2009 explosion and fire at Caribbean Petroleum Refining. CSB investigators continue to examine the events and circumstances surrounding the catastrophic tank explosion and fire.

Statement of U.S. Chemical Safety Board Chairman John Bresland - Friday November 13, 2009

Nov 13, 2009

The CSB investigative team has been continuing its investigation of the hydrogen gas explosion at the Silver Eagle refinery in Woods Cross on November 4. Our preliminary findings indicate that the explosion occurred when a 10-inch pipe failed catastrophically. Although the failure mechanism has yet to be determined, the pipe showed evidence of significant thinning which had not been detected by the refinery’s mechanical integrity program.

Safety Message: Without Safeguards, Pressure Vessels Can Be Deadly

Nov 09, 2009

Improperly installed or modified pressure vessels have led to a number of serious chemical accidents. Eleven states still don't require adherence to the ASME pressure vessel code. All states and localities should adopt this code and related boiler standards; lives will be saved as a result. That's the CSB chairman's safety message for Monday, November 9, 2009.

CSB Investigative Team Deploying to Silver Eagle Refinery Explosion and Fire near Salt Lake City

Nov 04, 2009

Washington DC, November 4, 2009 - A six-member team from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) is deploying to the scene of today’s explosion and fire at the Silver Eagle Refinery in Woods Cross, Utah.

The following statement from CSB Chairman John Bresland concerns OSHA’s announcement today of regulatory action against BP Products North America and its Texas City refinery

Oct 30, 2009

Today’s announcement by OSHA alleges extensive and serious safety violations by the BP refinery in Texas City, Texas. The citations stem from OSHA’s continuing inspection work following the March 23, 2005, accident that killed 15 workers and injured 180 others. While these OSHA citations are not yet final, they are of great concern to me because they strongly suggest that BP has yet to achieve an effective safety culture with regard to process safety management.

CSB to Examine Fire at Tesoro Refinery in Salt Lake City

Oct 23, 2009

Washington, DC, October 22, 2009 - A three-person investigative team from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) will be examining a fire that occurred Wednesday evening at the Tesoro refinery in Salt Lake City, Utah, following a power outage earlier in the day.

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