The Trump administration has moved to eliminate the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), the federal agency responsible for investigating chemical accidents.
A controversial proposal from the Trump administration has come out to dismantle the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), a small but critical independent federal agency. Critics are sounding the alarm, cautioning that the move could pave the way for a surge in industrial plant explosions, an increase in fatalities, and the abrupt cessation of vital investigations, including the ongoing probe into a significant 2023 Dow chemical release in Louisiana.
The CSB, established by Congress in 1998, plays a unique and indispensable role in federal oversight. Its primary mandate is to delve deep into the root causes of major chemical accidents, offering evidence-based recommendations to prevent future disasters. Unlike other agencies, the CSB holds no regulatory power and cannot issue fines or enforce rules. Instead, its strength lies in its meticulous, in-depth investigations, which have been widely lauded and utilized by industry safety officers, labor unions, and local governments to enhance safety protocols.
Among the high-profile cases currently under the CSB's purview is the July 14, 2023, fire and explosions at Dow's massive petrochemical complex in Plaquemine, Louisiana. This incident, which released over 30,000 pounds of ethylene oxide, a known carcinogen, led to a shelter-in-place order for communities within the environmentally vulnerable region often referred to as "Cancer Alley." The CSB's investigation into this incident remains unresolved, examining crucial areas such as the plant’s response and maintenance practices. Should the agency be dissolved, this vital investigation, along with others, would cease.
The administration's rationale for zeroing out the CSB's $14 million annual budget, as outlined in a 1,224-page budget document released on May 30, centers on the argument of duplication of efforts by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The proposal allocates an $844,000 emergency fund to cover closure costs, framing the move as part of a broader initiative to "redefine the proper role of the federal government" and promote "fiscal responsibility" within the 2026 budget.
The urgency of the CSB's work is highlighted by sobering statistics. According to Coming Clean, a nonprofit dedicated to environmental health, the U.S. experienced an average of one serious chemical accident every other day between 2021 and 2023. These 825 incidents resulted in 43 deaths and triggered evacuations in nearly 200 communities, underscoring the constant risk posed by chemical facilities and the critical need for an agency dedicated to understanding and preventing such tragedies.
