Leadership Issues Within Chemical Safety Board to be Examined by House Oversight Committee – Tomorrow

WASHINGTON– A likely violation of the Federal Records Act, abuse of power, and whistleblower retaliation within the Chemical Safety Board (CSB) will be examined during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. EST.

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Inspector General Arthur Elkins found that CSB Chairman Rafael Moure-Eraso and two senior staff members within the CSB appear to have violated the Federal Records Act by using their personal emails to conduct official CSB business. On January 16, 2015, the EPA OIG sent a memorandum to President Obama outlining the results of their investigation.
• At a January 28, 2015 CSB public meeting, board member Manuel Ehrlich introduced a sweeping 22-page motion that was seconded by Chairman Moure-Eraso. The motion made at the end of the meeting was an unprecedented move to consolidate the board’s power within the chairman.
• Investigations into leadership within the CSB reveal that current and former CSB employees fear retaliation from the chairman and senior CSB leadership.
  The Chemical Safety Board is the lowest rated agency in worker satisfaction. [bestplacestowork.org]

HEARING DETAILS

WHAT: Hearing on “Rebuilding the Chemical Safety Board: Finding a Solution to the CSB’s Governance and Management Challenges.”
WHERE: 2154 Rayburn House Office Building
DATE: Wednesday, March 04, 2015
TIME: 9:00 a.m. EST

WITNESSES:

Raphael Moure-Eraso, Ph. D
Chairman
U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board

Mark Griffon
Board Member
U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board

Manuel Ehrlich
Board Member
U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board

Richard J. Engler
Board Member
U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board

Patrick Sullivan
Assistant Inspector General for Investigations
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of the Inspector General