A key U.S. federal agency tasked with investigating the nation’s industrial chemical accidents has been limping along for years. Now, the latest Issue Backgrounder reports that replenished staffing and a funding boost may mean it’s found its footing. But as the pace of chemical accidents accelerates and safety regulations stagnate, will it make a difference?
The rule only applies to a narrow set of chemical releases. Unlike most EPA reporting rules, this rule is not triggered by a release of certain regulated chemicals. Rather, the standard for reporting is the impact of the chemical release on people and property.
Chemical safety board vital to N.J. gets new life after being ignored by Trump
Updated May 05, 2021;
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For decades, chemical explosions got the same attention as plane crashes, with an independent government agency rushing to the scene, gathering evidence and then coming up with a probable cause and recommendations to prevent a repeat.
That agency has deep New Jersey ties. The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board was born out of an explosion at a Lodi pharmaceutical manufacturing plant more than two decades ago, and owes its existence to a New Jersey lawmaker, the late U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg.
05/03/21
National Safety Council
Washington, DC President Joe Biden has nominated Sylvia Johnson, Steve Owens and Jennifer Sass to serve as members of the Chemical Safety Board, which has operated for a year with only one of its five board seats filled.
If the Senate confirms the nominations, issued April 28, the trio will join Chair and CEO Katherine Lemos on the board. Since May 1, 2020, Lemos has carried on as what she has called “a quorum of one” after the resignation of Kristen Kulinowski three months before her five-year term was set to expire.
Johnson heads the National Education Association s government relations department, focusing on the labor union s legislative work related to the safe reopening of schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her previous work experiences include serving as assistant legislative director of legislative affairs for United Auto Workers and as an occupational epidemiologist in UAW s health and safety department.