05-20022. Sunshine Act Meeting

In connection with its investigation into the cause of an explosion and fire which occurred at BP's Texas City refinery on March 23, 2005, the United States Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) announces that it will convene a community meeting starting at 6 p.m. at the Charles T. Doyle Convention Center, 2010 5th Avenue North, Texas City, Texas 77590. At the meeting CSB staff will present to the Board the preliminary results of their investigation into this incident. There will be a public comment period after the investigators' presentation.

At approximately 1:20 p.m. on Wednesday, March 23rd, a series of explosions occurred at the BP Texas City refinery during the restarting of a hydrocarbon isomerization unit. Fifteen workers were killed and about 170 others were injured. Many of the victims were in or around work trailers located near a blowdown drum and stack that were open to the atmosphere. The explosions occurred when a distillation tower flooded with hydrocarbons and was overpressurized, resulting in a release of flammable hydrocarbons from the blowdown stack. After the staff presentation, the Board will allow a time for public comment. Following the conclusion of the public comment period, the Board will consider whether the preliminary facts presented necessitate any recommendations prior to the final completion of the Board's investigative report.

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 should be considered final. Only after the Board has considered a final staff presentation and approved the staff report next year 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 [phone], or visit our Web site at: www.csb.gov.

Christopher W. Warner,

General Counsel.