Yesterday the Chemical Safety Board (CSB) updated their Recent Recommendation Status Updates page, closing five recommendations with acceptable alternative actions. These actions left 128 of 1019 recommendations open. Additionally, the CSB updated the open status of ten recommendations. The CSB took these actions on July 25th, 2025.
The five recommendations recently closed recommendations are:
Marathon Martinez Renewable Fuels Fire - 2024-01-I-CA-R1 - Marathon Martinez Renewables,
Kuraray Pasadena Release and Fire - 2018-03-I-TX-R5 - Kuraray America, Inc,
Kuraray Pasadena Release and Fire - 2018-03-I-TX-R12 - Kuraray America, Inc,
Intercontinental Terminals Company (ITC) Tank Fire - 2019-01-I-TX-R1 - Intercontinental Terminals Company, and
Husky Energy Superior Refinery Explosion and Fire - 2018-02-I-WI-R16 - Honeywell UOP,
The ten open recommendations that were updated are:
Marathon Martinez Renewable Fuels Fire - 2024-01-I-CA-R2 – Marathon Martinez Renewables,
Marathon Martinez Renewable Fuels Fire - 2024-01-I-CA-R3 – Marathon Martinez Renewables,
Marathon Martinez Renewable Fuels Fire - 2024-01-I-CA-R4 – Marathon Martinez Renewables,
Marathon Martinez Renewable Fuels Fire - 2024-01-I-CA-R5 – Marathon Martinez Renewables,
Marathon Martinez Renewable Fuels Fire - 2024-01-I-CA-R6 – Marathon Martinez Renewables,
Marathon Martinez Renewable Fuels Fire - 2024-01-I-CA-R7 – Marathon Martinez Renewables,
Honeywell Geismar Chlorine and Hydrogen Fluoride Releases - 2023-02-I-LA-R1 - Honeywell International Inc,
Honeywell Geismar Chlorine and Hydrogen Fluoride Releases - 2023-02-I-LA-R2 - Honeywell International Inc,
Honeywell Geismar Chlorine and Hydrogen Fluoride Releases - 2023-02-I-LA-R3 - Honeywell International Inc, and
Aghorn Operating Inc. Waterflood Station Hydrogen Sulfide Release - 2020-01-I-TX-R3 - Aghorn Operating Inc.
Marathon Martinez Renewable Fuels Fire
Incident Date: November 19th, 2023 Report Date: March 13th, 2025
2024-01-I-CA-R1 - Marathon Martinez Renewables
“MPC has notified the CSB that they have installed a new safeguard which continuously monitors oxygen, carbon monoxide, and methane within the fired heater involved in the incident. This safeguard is integrated into the heater’s control system and automatically adjusts conditions within the heater to prevent afterburning and other adverse conditions. It provides a reading in the control room and alarms at pre-determined levels. Upon review of documentation submitted by MPC, the CSB concluded that all requirements of the recommendation have been met.”
Closed – Acceptable Action
Kuraray Pasadena Release and Fire
Incident Date: May 19th, 2018 Report Date: December 21st, 2022
2018-03-I-TX-R5 - Kuraray America, Inc
“Kuraray notified the CSB following the CCPS guidance on recognizing catastrophic warning signs, they developed a program to assist technicians in recognizing various levels of warnings, including catastrophic incident warning signs. As a part of the program, Kuraray conducted surveys to help determine what employees considered to be the most important information needed to recognize incident warning signs. They collected and analyzed the data from the surveys and other audits and incorporated the findings into various elements of their safety management system. Upon review of the relevant and extensive documentation provided, the CSB concluded that Kuraray’s actions satisfy all elements of the recommendation.”
Closed – Acceptable Action.
2018-03-I-TX-R12 - Kuraray America, Inc
“Kuraray notified the CSB that they initiated audits following the incident to assess compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 29 CFR 1910.119 and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 40 CFR 68 RMP regulations. Kuraray has stated and provided supporting documentation that the audits were conducted by competent and independent auditors who developed comprehensive audit reports containing recommendations that the company has now turned into action items. Upon review, Kuraray has met all requirements of the recommendation except that the 3rd party auditors they hired did not sign “conflict of interest” documents as described in Appendix B of the report. Despite this fact, Kuraray’s actions have met the objectives envisioned by the Board in issuing this recommendation.
Closed – Acceptable Alternative Action
Intercontinental Terminals Company (ITC) Tank Fire
Incident Date: March 17th, 2017 Report Date: July 6th, 2023
2019-01-I-TX-R1 - Intercontinental Terminals Company
“ITC developed and implemented a PSM program applicable to all atmospheric storage tanks and associated equipment in highly hazardous chemical service based upon OSHA 3909 “Process Safety Management for Storage Facilities” which is an appropriate industry guidance document for a storage facility like ITC. Upon review of the information ITC provided that supported each element of OSHA 3909, the CSB concluded that ITC has implemented the requirements of the recommendation.”
Closed – Acceptable Action
Husky Energy Superior Refinery Explosion and Fire
Incident Date: April 26th, 2018 Report Date: December 29th, 2022
2018-02-I-WI-R16 - Honeywell UOP
“As indicated in their original response, Honeywell UOP was involved in the development of these [FCC unit process safety workshops] workshops from their inception. Honeywell UOP’s participation in these workshops includes the development and delivery of content, being present at the workshops and engaging with participants, and by assisting in the development of relevant practice share documents. The CSB has reviewed documentation of Honeywell UOP’s participation in this effort and found it satisfactory to meet the intent of the recommendation.”
Closed – Acceptable Alternative Action
Marathon Martinez Renewable Fuels Fire
Incident Date: November 19th, 2023 Report Date: March 13th, 2025
NOTE: All six updates are identical
2024-01-I-CA-R2 – Marathon Martinez Renewables,
2024-01-I-CA-R3 – Marathon Martinez Renewables,
2024-01-I-CA-R4 – Marathon Martinez Renewables,
2024-01-I-CA-R5 – Marathon Martinez Renewables,
2024-01-I-CA-R6 – Marathon Martinez Renewables,
2024-01-I-CA-R7 – Marathon Martinez Renewables,
“MPC has notified the CSB that they intend to implement the recommendations issued to both MMR and MPC. They have provided a plan of action that appears when implemented will satisfy the objectives of the recommendations and they have provided a timetable for completion.”
Open – Acceptable Response or Alternate Response
Honeywell Geismar Chlorine and Hydrogen Fluoride Releases
Incident Date: January 23rd, 2023 Report Date: May 27th, 2025
NOTE: All three updates are identical
2023-02-I-LA-R1 - Honeywell International Inc,
2023-02-I-LA-R2 - Honeywell International Inc,
2023-02-I-LA-R3 - Honeywell International Inc
“Honeywell has notified the CSB that they intend to implement the recommendations. They have provided a plan of action that appears when implemented will satisfy the objectives of the recommendations and they have provided a timetable for completion.”
“Open – Acceptable Response or Alternate Response
Aghorn Operating Inc. Waterflood Station Hydrogen Sulfide Release
Incident Date: October 26th, 2019 Report Date: May 21st, 2021
2020-01-I-TX-R3 - Aghorn Operating Inc.
“Aghorn’s initial and follow up responses indicated that they contacted several independent companies to perform the analysis required by the recommendation, but they were not able to find a willing contractor. Aghorn did, however, make significant physical alterations to their waterflood stations to improve natural ventilation and upgraded the facilitates’ exhaust ventilation to mitigate H2S releases. They also installed fixed H2S monitors set to alarm at 10 parts per million (PPM)1. The monitors are tied to audio visual alarms present onsite and a system that notifies Aghorn employees via phone and text and requires acknowledgement from employees on duty. Though Aghorn did not conduct the analysis required by the recommendation, they did take significant action to ensure employees are protected from releases of H2S meeting the objective of the recommendation envisioned by the Board.”
Closed – Acceptable Alternative Action