California officials are reviewing safety records of an aerospace firm after a pressurized tank nearly exploded with a toxic chemical over the Memorial Day weekend. The review also covers other similar chemical plants and other chemical sites. The effort is influenced by a deadly chemical tank rupture in Washington state that caused two deaths, injuries, and missing workers. Gov. Gavin Newsom expressed concern about federal cutbacks to safety investments and urged more robust investigations rather than reduced oversight. He indicated that rules and regulations should be reviewed and suggested additional regulation may be needed. State Sen. Tom Umberg said legislation will follow.
"“Obviously, all of us are now reviewing, and have been in real time, the safety records, not only of this site, but looking more broadly at other chemicals at other sites,” Newsom said in response to a question from The Times at a news conference where he signed an elections bill Wednesday."
"“The review is ‘particularly highlighted by what happened tragically in Washington state, as well.’ The massive rupture of a chemical tank at a paper mill in Longview, Wash., led to the deaths of two people, with nine people missing and eight others injured, the Associated Press reported.”"
"Newsom added that he was concerned about “some of the federal cutbacks to safety investments that have been made over the last year, federally, and are proposed in the president's new budget. And I hope this tempers that likelihood that they'll move forward [with] those cuts.”"
"When asked by The Times if more regulation of chemical plants might be necessary, Newsom said, “That's what I'm suggesting, as it relates to the rules and regulations, all being reviewed, safety records being reviewed as well.” State Sen. Tom Umberg added: “There will be legislation.”"
Read at Los Angeles Times
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