WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) led Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tom Carper (D-DE), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in a letter urging President Biden to prioritize filling vacancies on the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB). Through investigations, this board identifies the causes of chemical disasters and makes recommendations to federal agencies, companies, and the public to reduce the risk of future accidents. There are four vacancies on the five-person board, which the Senators note puts the environment, chemical workers, and the public at risk given the current backlog of investigations and safety recommendations.

The Senators wrote: “We are concerned that the ability of the CSB to undertake investigations and issue recommendations is being jeopardized by four vacancies on its five-member board. These vacancies have contributed to a backlog of over 14 investigations dating back to 2016 and more than 100 open safety recommendations that have not been finalized. This is especially concerning given that the core mission of the agency is to provide for chemical safety changes through lessons learned from previous incidents. The CSB cannot effectively accomplish that mission with only a single board member in place.”

Full text of the letter can be found HERE and below:

Dear President Biden,

As you continue to nominate public servants to serve in important positions across your Administration, we write to respectfully request that you prioritize filling the existing vacancies on the United States Chemical Safety Board (CSB).

When authorized by Congress, the CSB was designed to be a non-regulatory, independent agency with board members who would investigate industrial chemical accidents in the United States. These investigations are intended to identify root causes and pinpoint recommendations that ensure similar accidents are prevented in the future. The recommendations issued by CSB have led to changes in best practices and safety processes, as well as updated regulations that better safeguard our citizens and our environment.

We are concerned that the ability of the CSB to undertake investigations and issue recommendations is being jeopardized by four vacancies on its five-member board. These vacancies have contributed to a backlog of over 14 investigations dating back to 2016 and more than 100 open safety recommendations that have not been finalized. This is especially concerning given that the core mission of the agency is to provide for chemical safety changes through lessons learned from previous incidents. The CSB cannot effectively accomplish that mission with only a single board member in place. 

In order to better protect the environment, the public, and chemical plant workers, we urge you to prioritize filling the existing vacancies on the CSB.

Thank you for your attention to this important issue. 

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