Author Archives: Hillary,Cohen

CSB's FY 19 Budget Request

7/25/2013 U.S. Chemical Safety Board Determines OSHA Response to Seven Open CSB Recommendations on Dust, Fuel Gas, and Process Safety Management to be “Unacceptable;” Board Votes to Designate a Combustible Dust Standard as “Most Wanted” read more

CSB Public Business Meeting

CHEMICAL SAFETY AND HAZARD INVESTIGATION BOARD   Sunshine Act Meeting   TIME AND DATE: February 21, 2018, 1:00 p.m. EST   PLACE: U.S. Chemical Safety Board, 1750 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 910, Washington, DC 20006. STATUS: Open to the public.   MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED:   The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) will convene a public meeting on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. EST in Washington, DC, at the CSB offices located at 1750 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 910. The Board will discuss open investigations, the status of audits from the Office of the Inspector General, financial and organizational updates, and a review of the agency’s action plan. New business will include an overview and possible release of the CSB’s first “Safety Spotlight” and Board Member outreach and transparency initiatives.   Additional Information   The meeting is free and open to the public. If you require a translator or interpreter, please notify the individual listed below as the “Contact Person for Further Information,” at least three business days prior to the meeting.   A conference call line will be provided for those who cannot attend in person. Please use the following dial-in number to join the conference:  Dial-In: 888-862-6557Confirmation Number: 46446323   The CSB is an independent federal agency charged with investigating incidents and hazards that result, or may result, in the catastrophic release of extremely hazardous substances.   The agency’s Board Members are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. CSB investigations look into all aspects of chemical accidents and hazards, including physical causes such as equipment failure as well as inadequacies in regulations, industry standards, and safety management systems.   Public Comment   The time provided for public statements will depend upon the number of people who wish to speak. Speakers should assume that their presentations will be limited to three minutes or less, but commenters may submit written statements for the record.   Contact Person for Further Information   Hillary Cohen, Communications Manager, at [email protected] or (202) 446-8094. Further information about this public meeting can be found on the CSB website at: www.csb.gov.Back

Update on the CSB’s Ongoing Investigation into the Fatal Gas Well Explosion in Oklahoma

The US Chemical Safety Board is in the early stages of its investigation into the fatal gas well explosion near Quinton, Oklahoma. Since arriving on scene on January 24, the following facts have been gathered: Red Mountain Operating (RMO) is the lease holder and operator of the well involved in the incident – referred to as the Pryor Trust 0718 1H-9 well. In drilling, the operator is responsible for the well’s design and the drilling program, which should account for well-specific conditions that could increase the risk or complexity of the drilling contractor’s various drilling and well control operations. The drilling contractor, in this case Patterson-UTI Drilling Company, LLC (Patterson-UTI), brings the infrastructure (drilling rig) and supplies the workforce (rig crew) which operates the drilling rig. Consequently, the drilling contractor also has more direct control over the primary operations (drilling) and emergency response (well control). Another well had recently been drilled by Patterson-UTI on this pad without incident. Drilling of 1H-9 began on January 11, 2018, and currently the CSB is unaware of any deviations from the original well plan. At the time of the incident, the rig crew had recently pulled the drillpipe and associated drilling tools out of the well in preparation to change out the drill bit. Both RMO and Patterson-UTI have cooperated with the CSB’s investigation and promptly provided the well plan, daily drilling reports, and electronic rig data. The CSB is currently reviewing that information and plans to interview eye witnesses and others present at the wellsite beginning as early as next week. Investigators will return to the site to continue their field work as key pieces of equipment are ready to be collected. The CSB is an independent, non-regulatory federal agency whose mission is to drive chemical safety change through independent investigations to protect people and the environment. The agency’s board members are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. CSB investigations examine all aspects of chemical incidents, including physical causes such as equipment failure as well as inadequacies in regulations, industry standards, and safety management systems. For more information, contact [email protected]

CSB Will Investigate Fatal Well Explosion in Oklahoma

Washington D.C. January 25, 2018 – The U.S. Chemical Safety Board announced today that it will be moving forward with a full investigation into the fatal gas well explosion near Quinton, Oklahoma. The explosion fatally injured five workers. Upon notification of the incident, the CSB deployed two investigators to gather additional facts  to assist the Board in making  a decision regarding the scope of the investigation. Investigators arrived on site Wednesday morningand met with the lease holder for the well and the drilling operator.  CSB investigators will continue to meet with well service providers and the well site consultant company that had employees on site at the time of the incident. Evidence preservation and collection is the initial focus of the investigation.   The CSB is an independent, non-regulatory federal agency whose mission is to drive chemical safety change through independent investigations to protect people and the environment. The agency’s board members are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. CSB investigations examine all aspects of chemical incidents, including physical causes such as equipment failure as well as inadequacies in regulations, industry standards, and safety management systems. For more information, contact [email protected]. Back

Chemical Safety Board to Hold January 31 Public Business Meeting

Start PreambleJanuary 31, 2018, 1:00 p.m. EST.U.S. Chemical Safety Board, 1750 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 910, Washington, DC 20006.Open to the public.The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) will convene a public meeting on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. EST in Washington, DC, at the CSB offices located at 1750 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 910. The Board will discuss open investigations, the status of audits from the Office of the Inspector General, financial and organizational updates, and a review of the agency's action plan. New business will include an overview of the new “Safety Spotlight” program and the CSB's 20th Anniversary.Additional InformationThe meeting is free and open to the public. If you require a translator or interpreter, please notify the individual listed below as the “Contact Person for Further Information,” at least three business days prior to the meeting.A conference call line will be provided for those who cannot attend in person. Please use the following dial-in number to join the conference:(888) 862-6557Confirmation Number: 46190749The CSB is an independent federal agency charged with investigating incidents and hazards that result, or may result, in the catastrophic release of extremely hazardous substances. The agency's Board Members are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. CSB investigations look into all aspects of chemical accidents and hazards, including physical causes such as equipment failure as well as inadequacies in regulations, industry Start Printed Page 2768standards, and safety management systems.Public CommentThe time provided for public statements will depend upon the number of people who wish to speak. Speakers should assume that their presentations will be limited to three minutes or less, but commenters may submit written statements for the record.Contact Person for Further InformationHillary Cohen, Communications Manager, at [email protected] or (202) 446-8094. Further information about this public meeting can be found on the CSB website at: www.csb.gov.Start SignatureDated: January 17, 2018.Raymond Porfiri,Deputy General Counsel, Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.End SignatureEnd Preamble[FR Doc. 2018-01066 Filed 1-17-18; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 6350-01-P