The hearing will begin at 8:30 a.m. on June 22 in the Horizon Ballroom of the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington.

The hearing will begin with a panel of CSB investigators presenting their preliminary research on the history of combustible dust fires and explosions in the United States. Other panels will include:

• Victims of past dust explosions;
• Representatives from industry explaining current prevention efforts for combustible dust accidents; and
• Representatives from state, federal and overseas government agencies speaking about current regulations and activities to prevent dust explosions.

In addition to collecting testimony at the public hearing, CSB is soliciting comments on a number of questions related to combustible dust hazards. More information on submitting comments can be obtained by the reviewing the Federal Register notice available on CSB's Web site, http://www.csb.gov, or by e-mailing dust@csb.gov.

The public hearing is open to the public and no fee is required to attend. However, seating is limited, and attendees are strongly encouraged to pre-register by emailing their names and affiliations to dust@csb.gov no later than June 10.

In 2003, the CSB launched investigations of three combustible dust explosions in Kinston, N.C.; Corbin, Ky.; and Huntington, Ind. The investigations in North Carolina and Kentucky are now complete, and final reports are available from http://www.csb.gov. A total of 14 people were killed and 81 injured in the three accidents. In 2004, CSB launched a broader study of the causes and effects of combustible dust fires and explosions.