Safety at Chemical Facilities Needs Improvement, Says CSB Chair

March 13, 2014- On Jan. 9, a steel tank at Freedom Industries’ facility leaked up to 10,000 gallons of 4-Methylcyclohexane methanol (MCHM) near the Elk River, contaminating the water supply of about 300,000 West Virginians.

The US Chemical Safety Board’s (CSB) preliminary research into the chemical spill indicates a "gap in the regulatory framework" that does not adequately cover above-ground storage tanks, CSB Chairperson Rafael Moure-Eraso said at a field hearing in Charleston, W.Va. last week.
CSB investigators found that the secondary containment wall surrounding tank 396, the tank that leaked, provided "very little protection."

"Urgent steps are required to significantly improve the safety of facilities that handle hazardous chemicals," said Moure-Eraso. During its investigation, CSB will study tank design, construction materials, inspection practices, and state and federal oversight of similar tanks. The agency will also examine the response to the leak.

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