Senate takes up CSB nominees

Abstract

The current state and future goals of the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) became the focus of a Nov. 17 Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing called ostensibly to consider two board nominees. Steve Owens has been nominated for CSB chair and Catherine J.K. Sandoval for a member slot. Owens has been a board member since February but was recently nominated to chair the board, and Sandoval was nominated in June. For the past 2 years, the board has had only one or two of what should be five members. Although the senators supported the CSB’s role in investigating accidents, they quizzed Owens and Sandoval about delays in investigations and reports, as well as other shortcomings. Owens acknowledged the problems and stressed recent improvements. He noted that, after a 10-month gap, the CSB recently completed three long-delayed reports. He also promised that three more reports would