The U.S. Department of Justice and the EPA) have entered into an agreement with Harcros Chemicals Inc. to settle claims that Harcros violated provisions of the Clean Air Act aimed at preventing accidental releases of chemicals that can have serious consequences for public health, safety and the environment.
If a President or Congress want to dismantle worker protections or other government programs, they don’t have to repeal or change legislation; they can work their damage through the budget process. Slash the budget of a program you don’t like, and those protections no longer exist. Check out the President’s proposed budget in that context.
Earlier this week I reviewed a New York Times article on conflicts of interest among Trump political appointees that highlighted a new Labor Department Special Assistant, Geoffrey Burr. Burr is a former lobbyist for the Associated Builders and Contractors, and his federal disclosure form notes that he lobbied DOL against the silica standard and the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces regulation that would have required federal contractors to disclose federal labor law violations.
Although homes have been rebuilt and a new high school is up and running, the town of West, Texas hasn’t been able to close the terrible chapter of its history that began on April 17, 2013 – the day that an explosion at the West Fertilizer company killed 15 people and leveled dozens of buildings.
Strong safety programs are critical for the economic success of the chemical and petrochemical industries, according to the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB), which has released a “Business Case for Safety” that underlines that theme.
A tanker truck driver’s mistake at a chemical company in Atchison, Kansas sent a dense green toxic cloud into the air over a densely populated town, driving more 140 individuals -- both workers and members of the public -- to area hospitals and forcing others to shelter-in-place until evacuation orders were lifted.
Statement of CSB Chairperson Sutherland on 12th Anniversary of the BP Texas City Refinery Disaster
Twelve years ago today, an explosion and fire ripped through the BP Texas City refinery in Texas City, Texas. Fifteen lives were lost and billions of dollars in fines and settlements resulted. On this anniversary day, we acknowledge those lives lost and offer our condolences to their family members.
A White House proposal to eliminate funding for the U.S. Chemical Safety Board signals a full retreat from two decades of progress against chemical disasters and would, if enacted, put American lives in jeopardy, health and safety experts told the House Chronicle.
The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) says it is “deeply troubled” that the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) is targeted for elimination in President Trump’s budget blueprint for 2018.
The federal agency whose mission it is to improve safety in the chemical industry would vanish if the budget proposal unveiled by President Trump this week takes effect.
