(Washington, DC - December 9, 2003) Acting by unanimous consent, the U.S. Senate tonight confirmed the nomination of Rixio Enrique Medina as a Member of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB). Mr. Medina, currently an executive of Citgo Petroleum in Oklahoma, will join present board members Carolyn Merritt, Gerald Poje, and John Bresland following formal commissioning by President Bush.

"We are delighted with the Senate's action," said CSB Chairman Merritt. "Mr. Medina is an extraordinarily talented safety professional who will make a very valuable addition to the Board."

President Bush has nominated Gary Visscher of Maryland to fill the remaining vacant seat on the five-member Board; his nomination awaits action in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee next year.

The CSB is an independent federal agency charged with investigating industrial chemical accidents. CSB investigations look into all aspects of such events, including physical causes such as equipment failure as well as inadequacies in safety management systems. Typically, the investigations involve extensive witness interviews, examination of physical evidence, and chemical and forensic testing.

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, call Daniel Horowitz at (202) 261-7613.