The White House wants to close the independent agency investigating a deadly explosion at a U.S. Steel coal-processing plant that killed two people and injured 10 others last week.
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board would lose its funding at the end of September under a Trump administration budget proposal. That means the board could be shuttered before its investigation into the explosion at the Clairton Coke Works is even completed.
The deadly Aug. 11 blast was the second major explosion this year at the plant, which has a history of safety and pollution violations. Clairton, which is located outside of Pittsburgh, is the largest coking plant in the country.
The chemical safety board is a nonregulatory federal agency that investigates the root causes of major chemical incidents and the release of hazardous substances. Board investigations can take more than a year and may include subpoenas and witness interviews, among other techniques.
