HOUSTON, June 21 (Reuters) - The U.S. Chemical Safety Board is launching an investigation into the root causes of the BP oil spill disaster that killed 11 workers and threatens much of the U.S. Gulf Coast.
CSB Chairman John Bresland said in a letter to U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders that case will be handled by investigators who examined BP's refinery safety practices in a two-year probe of a deadly 2005 explosion at the company's Texas City, Texas, refinery.
'We intend to prioritize this work and apply all of our available resources to ensure the best possible investigation,' Bresland said in the letter dated Friday and released on Monday by the CSB, an independent U.S. federal agency that investigates chemical accidents.
Bresland said the agency will examine what led to the April 20 explosion on Transocean Ltd's Deepwater Horizon rig, which had drilled an exploratory well as per BP's design. An investigation of the response to the disaster and subsequent deep-sea spill, which has spewed tens of thousands of barrels a day, 'is beyond the CSB's current resources and abilities,' he said.
Democrat Henry Waxman, chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and Democrat Bart Stupak, chairman of its investigative subcommittee, asked the CSB by letter on June 8 to investigate the disaster.
The CSB's investigation into the Texas City explosion, which killed 15 workers and injured at least 170 more, was the longest in the agency's history. The CSB concluded that years of budget cuts and lax safety practices were factors in the explosion.
BP has consistently denied budget cuts contributed to that disaster and pledged to improve safety.
Bresland said the Deepwater Horizon investigation will examine safety cultures involved and effectiveness of relevant laws, regulations and industry standards.
The agency will tap into its $847,000 emergency investigative fund and ask for more money to cover its costs, Bresland said.
The agency's Texas City investigation cost about $2.5 million, he said.
The CSB operates as an independent entity, much like the National Transportation Safety Board. While the NTSB investigates transportation disasters like plane crashes and train derailments, the CSB investigates industrial chemical accidents and releases.
(Reporting by Kristen Hays) Keywords: OIL SPILL/PROBE (kristen.hays@thomsonreuters.com; +1 713-210-8538; Reuters Messaging: kristen.hays.reuters.com@reuters.) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
CSB Chairman John Bresland said in a letter to U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders that case will be handled by investigators who examined BP's refinery safety practices in a two-year probe of a deadly 2005 explosion at the company's Texas City, Texas, refinery.
'We intend to prioritize this work and apply all of our available resources to ensure the best possible investigation,' Bresland said in the letter dated Friday and released on Monday by the CSB, an independent U.S. federal agency that investigates chemical accidents.
Bresland said the agency will examine what led to the April 20 explosion on Transocean Ltd's Deepwater Horizon rig, which had drilled an exploratory well as per BP's design. An investigation of the response to the disaster and subsequent deep-sea spill, which has spewed tens of thousands of barrels a day, 'is beyond the CSB's current resources and abilities,' he said.
Democrat Henry Waxman, chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and Democrat Bart Stupak, chairman of its investigative subcommittee, asked the CSB by letter on June 8 to investigate the disaster.
The CSB's investigation into the Texas City explosion, which killed 15 workers and injured at least 170 more, was the longest in the agency's history. The CSB concluded that years of budget cuts and lax safety practices were factors in the explosion.
BP has consistently denied budget cuts contributed to that disaster and pledged to improve safety.
Bresland said the Deepwater Horizon investigation will examine safety cultures involved and effectiveness of relevant laws, regulations and industry standards.
The agency will tap into its $847,000 emergency investigative fund and ask for more money to cover its costs, Bresland said.
The agency's Texas City investigation cost about $2.5 million, he said.
The CSB operates as an independent entity, much like the National Transportation Safety Board. While the NTSB investigates transportation disasters like plane crashes and train derailments, the CSB investigates industrial chemical accidents and releases.
(Reporting by Kristen Hays) Keywords: OIL SPILL/PROBE (kristen.hays@thomsonreuters.com; +1 713-210-8538; Reuters Messaging: kristen.hays.reuters.com@reuters.) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
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