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Here’s a summary of the article about the proposed shutdown of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB):

• Proposed Shutdown: The Trump administration has quietly proposed to shut down the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), an independent federal agency that investigates large-scale chemical accidents.
• Reason for Closure: The administration cites “fiscal responsibility” and a desire to “redefine the proper role of the federal government,” proposing to zero out the CSB’s $14 million annual budget for fiscal year 2026.
• Safety Concerns: Former CSB officials and environmental groups warn that closing the agency will lead to more accidents, explosions, and deaths at chemical plants, particularly in the Gulf Coast’s petrochemical industry concentration.
• CSB’s Role: Established in 1998, the CSB investigates the causes of petrochemical accidents and issues recommendations to plants, regulators, and business groups. It does not impose fines or penalties, relying on voluntary compliance or enforcement by other agencies like the EPA.
• High Accident Frequency: Hazardous chemical accidents occur, on average, once every other day in the U.S., with 825 incidents documented between January 2021 and October 2023, resulting in 43 deaths and numerous evacuations.
• Key Investigations: The CSB has conducted over 100 investigations, with Texas (22 cases) and Louisiana (8 cases) being major focuses. It currently has active probes into incidents, including a significant Dow chemical plant explosion in Louisiana that released over 30,000 pounds of ethylene oxide.
• Justification Debated: The administration claims the CSB duplicates capabilities of the EPA and OSHA. However, former officials argue that the CSB provides a broader investigation into “deeper causes” (like worker fatigue or corporate budget cuts) that other agencies cannot, and its recommendations provide crucial scientific evidence for communities to push for safety improvements.
• Previous Weakening Efforts: During the first Trump administration, the CSB’s work was already hampered by unfilled positions and internal conflicts, leading to a backlog of unfinished investigations.