[Federal Register: April 29, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 83)]
[Notices]               
[Page 23182]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29ap08-33]                         

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CHEMICAL SAFETY AND HAZARD INVESTIGATION BOARD

 
Sunshine Act Meeting--May 13, 2008--6:30 p.m.

    In connection with its investigation into the cause of a November 
22, 2006, explosion and fire at the CAI/Arnel manufacturing facility in 
Danvers, Massachusetts, the United States Chemical Safety and Hazard 
Investigation Board (CSB) announces that it will convene a public 
meeting on May 13, 2008, starting at 6:30 p.m. in the North Shore 
ballroom at the Sheraton Ferncroft Resort, 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, 
MA 01923. At the meeting CSB staff will present to the Board the 
results of their investigation into this incident. After the 
presentation by the CSB investigators there will be presentations by 
witnesses discussing changes in local and state safety oversight that 
have been proposed since the November 22, 2006, accident at CAI/Arnel. 
This will be followed by a public comment period prior to a Board vote 
on the report.
    On November 22, 2006, at about 2:45 a.m., a violent explosion at 
the CAI/Arnel manufacturing facility rocked the town of Danvers, MA. 
The explosion and subsequent fire destroyed the facility, heavily 
damaged dozens of nearby homes and businesses, and shattered windows as 
far away as one mile. At least 10 residents required hospital treatment 
for cuts and bruises. More than 16 homes and three businesses were 
damaged beyond repair. Dozens of boats at the nearby marina were 
heavily damaged by blast overpressure and debris strikes.
    Local authorities ordered the evacuation of more than 300 residents 
within a half-mile of the facility. Many residents could not return for 
many months while they waited for their houses to be rebuilt or 
repaired. Seventeen months after the explosion, six homes had yet to be 
reoccupied as repairs were not completed.
    Following the conclusion of the public comment period, the Board 
will consider whether to approve the final report and recommendations. 
All staff presentations are preliminary and are intended solely to 
allow the Board to consider in a public forum the issues and factors 
involved in this case. No factual analyses, conclusions or findings 
presented by staff should be considered final. Only after the Board has 
considered the final staff presentation, listened to the witnesses and 
the public comments, and approved the staff report will there be an 
approved final record of this incident.
    The meeting will be open to the public. Please notify CSB if a 
translator or interpreter is needed, at least 5 business days prior to 
the public meeting. For more information, please contact the Chemical 
Safety and Hazard Investigation Board at (202) 261-7600, or visit our 
Web site at: http://www.csb.gov.

Christopher W. Warner,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 08-1200 Filed 4-25-08; 3:33pm]

BILLING CODE 6350-01-P