For more information, go to: CAI/Arnel Investigation Information Page

Washington, DC, April 18, 2007 - The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) today announced that it will be holding a community meeting on May 9 in Danvers, Massachusetts, to present preliminary findings from its investigation of the November 22, 2006, explosion at the CAI/Arnel ink and paint manufacturing facility in Danversport which damaged or destroyed approximately 100 nearby homes and businesses.

The meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. at the Sheraton Ferncroft Resort, 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MA 01923. The meeting is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is not required, but to assure adequate seating attendees are encouraged to pre-register by emailing their names and affiliations to danvers@csb.gov by May 3.

At the community meeting, a seven-member CSB investigative team will present its preliminary findings on the circumstances of the accident to the five-member CSB board and the public. The Board will ask questions of the team in front of the public audience and will then invite comments from members of the public. The meeting will be videotaped and an official transcript will be included in the investigative file.

"Community meetings serve several important investigative needs," said CSB Chairman Carolyn W. Merritt. "We fulfill our duty to inform the public of what we are finding, and the public helps us by bringing their thoughts and ideas to the attention of the Board and the investigative team. Active involvement and participation of communities promotes the adoption of the CSB's safety recommendations and helps make future accidents less likely."

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 regulations, industry standards, and 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. Visit our website, www.csb.gov.

For more information, contact Director of Public Affairs Dr. Daniel Horowitz, (202) 261-7613, cell (202) 441-6074, or Public Affairs Specialist Hillary Cohen, (202) 261-3601, cell (202) 446-8094.