According to local officials, the explosion in the diesel hydrotreater unit caused damage to homes in the surrounding area and was felt several miles away from the facility.
The CSB is investigating a January 2009 flash fire at the same refinery that burned two refinery operators and two contractors. For more information on the CSB’s investigation please visit http://www.csb.gov/.
The investigation team will be led by CSB Investigations Supervisor Donald Holmstrom and will be arriving Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.
The CSB is an independent federal agency charged with investigating industrial chemical accidents. The agency's board members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. CSB investigations look into all aspects of chemical accidents, including physical causes such as equipment failure as well as inadequacies in regulations, industry standards, and safety management systems.
For more information, contact (on scene) Sandy Gilmour 202-251-5496 (cell) or Director of Public Affairs Dr. Daniel Horowitz, 202-261-7613, cell 202-441-6074.