Washington, DC, Feb. 22, 2004 - Daniel Horowitz has been appointed Director of Congressional, Public, and Board Affairs for the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), the agency announced today.

Dr. Horowitz, a special assistant to the board since joining the agency in 2000, will head the CSB's congressional relations efforts, including contact with Members and staff in relevant appropriations and authorizing committees. As head of public affairs, he will continue to direct the CSB's public outreach, including oversight of the agency's public meetings, liaison between CSB Board Members, investigators and community officials, and the news media.

"Under Dr. Horowitz's direction, the agency's outreach to Congress, the public, and key stakeholders from labor and industry has resulted in a substantial increase in the awareness of the CSB's vital mission," said CSB Chairman Carolyn Merritt.

"Dr. Horowitz contributes to the work of the CSB with quiet dedication, utilizing his background in chemistry and analysis to help inform the quality of everything from investigation reports to public outreach," said Chairman Merritt. She added, "We are grateful to have him serving in this important position at the CSB, where he will continue to work closely with the Board."

Dr. Horowitz said, "I am honored and pleased to accept this position. The mission of the CSB is crucial to fostering increased safety in the chemical process industry. As an independent agency that does not regulate or enforce, our ability to save lives and protect the environment comes through public outreach to industry, labor, trade groups, the public and Members of Congress. I look forward to working closely with Board Members in furtherance of this mission."

Dr. Horowitz holds a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Cambridge University, England, where he performed research on the properties of biomaterials. He received an M.S. in chemistry from Stanford University and an A.B. in chemistry from Harvard. Before joining the CSB, Dr. Horowitz worked as a research scientist with Metabolix Inc., a Boston-area biotechnology company, and served as a Congressional science fellow with the U.S. House Committee on Science. He is the author of eleven scientific papers and eleven United States patents.

The CSB is an independent federal agency charged with investigating industrial chemical accidents. The agency's board members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. CSB investigations look into all aspects of chemical accidents, including physical causes such as equipment failure as well as inadequacies in safety management systems.

The Board does not issue citations or fines but does make safety recommendations to plants, industry organizations, labor groups, and regulatory agencies such as OSHA and EPA. Further information about the CSB is available from www.csb.gov. For more information, contact Kara Wenzel, CSB 202-261-7642 / 202-577-8448 (cell), or Sandy Gilmour, 202-251-5496 (cell).