[Federal Register: September 9, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 175)]
[Notices]               
[Page 52262-52263]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09se08-29]                         

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CHEMICAL SAFETY AND HAZARD INVESTIGATION BOARD

 
Sunshine Act Meeting--September 25--6:30 p.m.

    In connection with its investigation into the cause of a January 
30, 2007, propane explosion at the Little General Store in Ghent, West 
Virginia, the United States Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation 
Board (CSB) announces that it will convene a public meeting on 
September 25, 2008, starting at 6:30 p.m. in the Tamarack Conference 
Center Ballroom, One Tamarack Park, Beckley, WV 25801--Telephone 
 (304)-256-6843.
    At the meeting CSB staff will present to the Board the results of 
their investigation into this incident. Key issues involved in the 
investigation concern emergency evacuation, hazardous materials 
incident training for firefighters, 911 Call Center preparations, 
propane company procedures, and propane technician training. This will 
be followed by a public comment period prior to a Board vote on the 
report.
    On January 30, 2007, four people were killed and five others were 
seriously injured when propane vapors from a storage tank ignited and 
exploded at the Little General convenience store and gasoline station 
in Ghent, West Virginia.

[[Page 52263]]

Propane was used as fuel inside the building. The explosion leveled the 
store, destroyed a responding ambulance, and damaged other nearby 
vehicles.
    On the day of the incident, a propane technician was preparing to 
transfer liquid propane from an existing tank to a newly installed 
replacement tank. When the technician removed a plug from the existing 
tank's liquid withdrawal valve, liquid propane unexpectedly released 
and formed a vapor cloud. About 15 minutes after the release began, a 
911 call was made. Shortly after, emergency responders and another 
propane technician arrived on scene. Little General employees closed 
the store but did not evacuate. Minutes after the emergency responders 
arrived, the propane ignited killing the two propane technicians and 
two emergency responders in the area of the tank, injuring four store 
employees inside the building and two other emergency responders 
outside.
    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. E8-20986 Filed 9-5-08; 4:15 pm]

BILLING CODE 6350-01-P