US CSB Deep Water Horizon Public Hearing

Regulatory Approaches to Offshore Oil and Gas Safety

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB), an independent federal agency charged with investigating chemical accidents, will hold a public hearing Wednesday, December 15, 2010, as part of its ongoing investigation into the causes of the BP Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion and fire which occurred on April 20, 2010, killing eleven workers.

Where & When: 9 am - 5 pm, Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Embassy Suites Hotel – Ballroom
1520 22nd Street NW (between M and N Streets)
Washington, DC

Webcast: Watch meeting on www.CSB.gov

News Conference: There will be a break in the program for a news conference at approximately 11 a.m.  CSB investigators, CSB Board Members, and panel members will be available during the news conference and throughout the day for interviews.

Background:

At this hearing, the CSB Board will gather information on how offshore oil and gas drilling is managed and regulated in other countries.

The data will be considered in the ongoing CSB investigation into the Deepwater Horizon explosion and fire, and will help inform the board’s safety recommendations that will result from the investigation.

Additionally, the CSB will examine this information in light of other significant CSB energy sector investigations and recommendations including the 2005 BP Texas City accident investigation done by the CSB.

The hearing will consist of testimony from three panels featuring leading safety experts from regulatory authorities, industry and unions; all involved in oil and gas exploration and production safety operations.

Regulatory Panel

• Ian Whewell – retired Director of Offshore Division, United Kingdom Health and Safety Executive
• Magne Ognedal – Director-General, Norwegian Petroleum Safety Authority
• John Clegg - retired CEO, Australian National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority

Industry Panel

• Erik Milito - Director of Upstream and Industry Operations, American Petroleum Institute
• Joe Leimkuhler - Offshore Well Delivery Manager, Shell Oil
• Ole Preben Berget - Vice President Operations USA and Mexico E&P, Statoil
• Alan Spackman - Vice President, Offshore Technical and Regulatory Affairs, International Association of Drilling Contractors
• Dr. Robin Pitblado - Director of SHE Risk Management Services, DNV
• TBA, ABS Consulting

Union Panel

• Mike Wright - Director, Health Safety and Environment, United Steelworkers
• Roy Erling Furre - Representative, Norwegian Union of Energy Workers
• Glenn Trimmer - USW Local 4959, Alaska

• Fritz Guenther - President, USW Local 4959, Alaska

Seat reservations: Not required, but to ensure sufficient seating, please go to rsvp@csb.gov.

For more information, contact:

Hillary Cohen, Director of Public Affairs, 202-261-3601, cell 202-446-8094,

Amy McCormick, Public Affairs Specialist, 202.261.7630, cell 202-640-8945, Amy.McCormick@csb.gov

Sandy Gilmour, Public Affairs Support, 202-261-7614 or cell 202-251-5496, Sandy.Gilmour@csb.gov

Ashley McDaniel, Public Affairs Support, 202.261.7612, Ash.mcdaniel@csb.gov