A coalition of labor, environmental, and safety advocates is urging Congress to block the Trump administration’s plan to dismantle the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, warning that the decision threatens millions living near hazardous chemical facilities.
Carey Gillam reports for The New Lede.
In short:
- A coalition of major unions, advocacy groups, and environmental organizations sent a letter to Congress opposing the administration’s effort to eliminate the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB).
- The letter cites 105 serious chemical incidents so far in 2025 and points to a 2023 report showing chemical accidents occur nearly every day in the U.S.
- The CSB, which lacks enforcement power but provides recommendations to agencies like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is currently investigating several incidents, including a major ethylene oxide release in Louisiana.
Key quote:
“You do not have to live near a refinery or large chemical plant to be affected by chemical disasters.”
— Coalition letter to Congress
Why this matters:
Chemical accidents are not rare and not confined to remote industrial zones; they occur regularly and often in populated areas. Facilities handling hazardous substances are scattered across the country, including near schools, homes, and hospitals. These incidents can lead to explosions, toxic air releases, fires, and mass evacuations. Chemicals like ethylene oxide are known carcinogens, and repeated or acute exposure to toxic releases can cause severe health and environmental damage. Eliminating the agency tasked with investigating these events delays vital safety recommendations and limits public accountability.
Read more: White House moves to dismantle key federal board that investigates chemical disasters
