President Clinton Nominates Lois Epstein To Chemical Safety Board

President Clinton has nominated Environmental Defense engineer Lois Epstein to the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSHIB), an independent agency that investigates chemical accidents and makes recommendations to prevent future accidents.

Ms. Epstein has worked for Environmental Defense for twelve years, and previously worked for two private sector consulting firms and the US Environmental Protection Agency. At Environmental Defense, Epstein works on pollution and accident prevention within the petroleum, vehicle assembly, and steel industries.

"It is indeed an honor for Environmental Defense and for the Chemical Safety Board to have someone of Ms. Epstein's caliber," said Fred Krupp, executive director of Environmental Defense. "Lois has devoted her career to a cleaner world and to increased public safety through accident prevention."

"Ms. Epstein has demonstrated integrity, technical and analytical expertise, industrial plant knowledge, and a strong understanding of environmental laws and regulations," said US Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ). "She has the ability to work with a diverse array of interests, and a commitment to resolving environmental and worker safety problems. These qualities, in combination with Ms. Epstein's expertise in engineering, petroleum refining, and her familiarity with the National Transportation Safety Board --the model for this Board -- make her a strong candidate."

Epstein has a B.A. in English from Amherst College, an S.B. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT, and an M.S. in Civil Engineering from Stanford University.

The US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) is a scientific investigative organization. The Board is not an enforcement or regulatory body, but makes recommendations aimed at preventing future accidents to the Congress, industry, federal, state and local agencies, as well as trade associations and others.