Washington — Chemical Safety Board Chair Steve Owens considers the independent agency among “the most productive and efficient” in government, even as it operates with two of its five seats vacant.
During a Jan. 23 public business meeting, Owens, alongside board members Sylvia Johnson and Catherine J.K. Sandoval, pledged to continue the agency’s work. However, plans for CSB under the second Donald Trump administration remain uncertain.
“We don’t really have any involvement in that,” Owens said about possible additions to the board. “That’s always a decision made by the White House, and the three of us were appointed during the previous administration. We’ll obviously wait and see if the current administration has any plans to appoint anybody to the board.”
CSB was a frequent target for elimination under the first Trump administration, and the president’s known plans for deregulation during his second term suggest additional board members are unlikely.
Although the two seats have remained open since Sandoval was sworn in on Feb. 2, 2023, CSB has steadily added to other areas of the agency. The results, it says, are improved response time to and management of incidents.
In fiscal year 2024, CSB reached a milestone of 1,000 safety recommendations aimed at protecting workers and communities while eliminating a long-standing investigation backlog.
On Jan. 14, the agency announced it aims to boost transparency by regularly publishing summaries of serious chemical incidents reported to the agency under its program on incidental release reporting.
“As we move forward, the CSB’s work remains critical, and I’m energized by the possibilities ahead,” Johnson said during the meeting. “Progress isn’t accidental; it’s the result of diligent effort, collaboration and a steadfast commitment to doing better. Together, we’re creating a safer, more secure future for workers, communities and the environment.”
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Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication