The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) will release a Case Study on the investigation of the September 21, 2003 explosion which occurred at the Isotec/Sigma-Aldrich Corp. plant in Miami Township, OH.

On Tuesday, August 24 at 10 am, CSB Board Member John Bresland and lead investigator John Vorderbrueggen will hold a news conference to release the Case Study at the Miami Township Hall, 2700 Lyons Road, in Miami Township.

The Case Study will discuss the Isotec process involving nitric oxide, a highly explosive chemical under certain conditions, how and why the accident likely occurred, findings and lessons learned, and the emergency response.

Following the news conference, Mr. Bresland and Mr. Vorderbrueggen will brief township and Miamisburg city officials in a joint meeting at the township hall at 11 am.

The explosion occurred in a 300-foot underground distillation tower used to purify nitric oxide. Debris from the blast struck and dislodged a 52,000-pound carbon monoxide storage vessel, and leaking carbon monoxide gas ignited and burned for more than an hour. Local authorities ordered the evacuation of residents in a one-mile radius of the facility out of concern that the carbon monoxide vessel could explode.

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 Sandy Gilmour (Public Affairs Contractor), 202-261-7614 / 202-251-5496 (cell), or Kara Wenzel, CSB 202-261-7642 / 202-577-8448 (cell).