Title: Calling for an update to certain Occupational Safety and Health Regulations and certain Environmental Protection Agency programs relating to highly hazardous chemicals.
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the Occupational Safety and Health Administration should update regulations concerning refinery and chemical plant safety, and (2) the Environmental Protection Agency should update its Risk Management Plan rule pursuant to the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 147 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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;
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
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that the Occupational Safety and 
Health Administration should update regulations concerning refinery and 
chemical plant safety, including the Process Safety Management 
regulations (29 C.F.R. 1910.199), and the EPA should update its Risk 
Management Plan rule pursuant to section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act 
Amendments. These updated regulations should be no less comprehensive 
than those in place in California, and similarly should be based on the 
industry's own best practices.
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