Federal Neglect and California’s Fragmented Oversight Leave Refinery Safety in Jeopardy

Last week’s explosion at Chevron’s El Segundo refinery wasn’t just a fiery spectacle; it was a glaring symptom of systemic failure rooted in federal retrenchment and state regulatory confusion. Orange flames shot skyward as windows rattled across neighborhoods—yet who is truly accountable for investigating such hazardous incidents when America’s primary chemical safety watchdog is being disbanded? How Did the 'Gold Standard' of Refinery Safety Investigations Become a Casualty? The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB), once the independent authority known for thorough investigations into refinery disasters, has seen its role sharply diminished under the Trump administration. Labelled redundant by bureaucrats eager...