US CSB report on BP refinery blast due on 20 Mar

07 March 2007 21:26  [Source: ICIS news]

TORONTO (ICIS news)--The US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) will on 20 March release its final report on BP’s 2005 Texas refinery accident at Texas City that killed 15 workers and injured 180, the board said on Wednesday.

 

On the same day, the CSB will hold a public meeting in Texas City to present its report, and answer questions and seek comments from the public.

 

The CSB expects to then proceed to a vote on whether to approve the report and its recommendations, it said.

 

Analysts said in January that the CSB report could be much harder hitting than the Baker panel’s report.

 

The Texas City refinery accident on 23 March 2005 has been the subject of a number of investigations by various US federal and stage agencies, including the CSB, the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

 

There is also an ongoing investigation by US Department of Justice, which is looking at the possibility of criminal conduct.

 

BP said in its 2006 annual report that it set up a $1.625bn (€1.235bn) provision to cover the accident’s costs and reach settlements with relatives of those who were killed and hundreds of other people who filed injury claims. The company has reached over 1,000 settlements so far, it said.

 

($1 = €0.76)

By: Stefan Baumgarten
+1 713 525 2653

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