Public hearing on Deepwater Horizon explosion scheduled for Dec. 15

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) today announced that it will be holding a daylong public hearing entitled “Regulatory Approaches to Offshore Oil and Gas Safety” on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010, in Washington DC. The meeting is part of the CSB’s ongoing investigation into the April 20, 2010, fire and explosion on the Deepwater Horizon that killed 11 workers. The hearing will bring together international regulators, union representatives and industry groups to discuss approaches to regulating the safety of offshore oil and gas exploration and production. 

The meeting will be held from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm at the Embassy Suites Ballroom located at 1250 22nd Street Northwest in Washington D.C. The meeting is free and open to the public.  

The CSB’s board members and Deepwater Horizon investigation team will hear testimony from leading safety experts involved in offshore drilling activities from the United Kingdom, Australia and Norway. Members of the audience will have an opportunity to comment and to submit questions for the panel participants.

 The meeting will be available via webcast. All proceedings will be videotaped and an official transcript will be published.

  The CSB is an independent federal agency charged with investigating industrial chemical accidents. The agency's board members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. CSB investigations look into all aspects of chemical accidents, including physical causes such as equipment failure as well as inadequacies in regulations, industry standards, and safety management systems. 

The Board does not issue citations or fines but does make safety recommendations to plants, industry organizations, labor groups, and regulatory agencies such as OSHA and EPA.

 For more information, contact Acting Director of Public Affairs Hillary Cohen, (202) 261-3601, cell (202) 446-8094, or Board Affairs Specialist Amy McCormick (202) 261-7630, cell (202) 640-8945.