IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 147 

Calling for an update to certain Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 

and certain Environmental Protection Agency programs relating to highly 

hazardous chemicals. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 20, 2018 

Mr. DESAULNIER submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition 

to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 

provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Calling for an update to certain Occupational Safety and 

Health Regulations and certain Environmental Protection Agency programs relating to highly hazardous 

chemicals. 

Whereas the process safety management regulation is a regulation promulgated by the Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration (OSHA) relating to the use, storage, manufacturing, handling, or the on-site movement of 

highly hazardous chemicals as defined by OSHA and the 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and it hasn’t 

been updated since 1992; 


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•HCON 147 IH 

Whereas, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, 

there are an average of 150 major industrial fires, explosions, or chemical releases reported each year to EPA; 

Whereas, in January 1997, one man died and 46 others were 

injured in a refinery explosion in Martinez, California; 

Whereas, in April 2010, seven people died in a refinery fire 

in Anacortes, Washington; 

Whereas, in August 2012, 19 workers were endangered and 

15,000 residents had to seek care after a refinery fire in 

Richmond, California; 

Whereas, in April 2018, an explosion at a Husky Energy refinery left at least 20 injured in Superior, Wisconsin; 

Whereas, in response to the 1997 refinery explosion in Martinez, California, Contra Costa County enacted a 

groundbreaking industrial safety ordinance to promote 

safety at refineries that has been successful in reducing 

the number of safety incidents; 

Whereas, in response to the 2012 refinery fire in Richmond, 

California, the State of California responded by implementing comprehensive, modern regulations in 2017, 

known as Process Safety Management for Petroleum Refineries under the Division of Occupational Safety and 

Health and Program 4 of the Accidental Release Prevention Program under the California Environmental Protection Agency, that are the strongest in the Nation; 

Whereas Contra Costa County, the State of Washington, and 

others are updating their safety regulations based on 

those enacted in California; and 

Whereas the Federal standards are in need of similar updating: Now, therefore, be it 


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•HCON 147 IH 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the Oc3 cupational Safety and Health Administration should up4 date regulations concerning refinery and chemical plant 

5 safety, including the Process Safety Management regula6 tions (29 C.F.R. 1910.199), and the EPA should update 

7 its Risk Management Plan rule pursuant to section 112(r) 

8 of the Clean Air Act Amendments. These updated regula9 tions should be no less comprehensive than those in place 

10 in California, and similarly should be based on the indus11 try’s own best practices. 

Æ 


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