Chemical Disaster Group Opposes Eliminating Chemical Safety Board

Members of the Coalition to Prevent Chemical Disasters sent a letter urging members of Congress to oppose the White House’s FY26 budget proposal to eliminate the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.

The letter also asks Congress to ensure the de-funding proposal is not included in the appropriations text.

The letter was signed by BlueGreen Alliance, Center for Environmental Health, Coming Clean, Earthjustice, the Environmental Justice Health Alliance for Chemical Policy Reform, New Jersey Work Environment Council, International Union, UAW, the Union of Concerned Scientists, and United Steelworkers.

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The CSB is an independent federal agency charged with investigating industrial chemical accidents. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the agency’s board members are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

Under its public safety mission, the CSB conducts root cause investigations of chemical accidents at fixed industrial facilities. The CSB investigative staff includes chemical and mechanical engineers, industrial safety experts, and other specialists with experience in the private and public sectors. Many investigators have years of chemical industry experience.

CSB recently released this video outlining its mission and some of its recent work.

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“The CSB has a budget of only $14.4 million dollars, as of FY 2024,” the authors write in the letter. “By contrast, the disasters it investigates and strives to prevent cost billions, and threaten public safety. Chemical disasters in the most recent five years evaluated by EPA cost over $2.3 billion, or roughly 160 times greater than the CSB budget. In 2025 alone, at least 105 serious chemical disasters, such as fires, explosions, and releases have already been reported. Communities across the United States near the over 11,000 facilities managing extremely hazardous substances – and especially workers, first responders, families, and children in those communities – need sustained funding for the CSB.”