Washington, DC, June 5, 2006 - The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) is deploying an investigative team to conduct an assessment of today's fatal explosion and fire at the Partridge-Raleigh LLC oilfield, six miles southwest of Raleigh, Mississippi.

The CSB team will gather information to determine if the Board will conduct a lengthier, formal investigation.

According to media reports, three workers were killed and at least one other worker was injured. All four were employees of Stringer Oilfield Services.

The CSB team will be headed by Lead Investigator Johnnie Banks and will include investigators Francisco Altamirano and Angela Blair.

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, regulations, and industry standards.

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. Visit our website, www.csb.gov.

For more information, contact: Public Affairs Specialist Kara Wenzel 202-261-7642, cell 202-577-8448, or Sandy Gilmour 202-261-7614, cell 202-251-5496.