SAFETY BOARD URGENTLY WARNS BP
By Ella Tyler

The federal agency investigating the March explosion at BP's Texas City refinery issued an "urgent safety recommendation" on Wednesday, requesting that BP commission an independent panel of experts to conduct a safety review at the company's five North American refineries.

Although the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board will not make its preliminary findings public until late October, board chair Carolyn Merritt said, "In light of recent events in Texas City, and the findings of our team, we determined that this recommendation could not wait for the completion of our full investigation next year."

Merritt added, "We also concluded that an examination of BP's corporate oversight and culture is an essential ingredient for the full understanding of the tragedy in Texas City." She suggested that the review be similar to the investigation of space shuttle Columbia's re-entry in 2003, when it broke apart over Texas, killing all seven astronauts on board.

The board has identified safety management lapses that could pose an imminent hazard and have potential to cause serious harm unless rectified soon, Merritt reported.

The call for urgent safety reviews is the first ever issued by the board, which investigates incidents at petrochemical facilities across the country.

BP had already announced that it would shut down all high-pressure units at the Texas City refinery until it deems the plant safe. That announcement was made August 11, the day after a gas leak that led to issuance of a Class 3 (shelter in place) alert. The refinery experienced another explosion on July 28. Neither the August 11 nor the July 28 incident caused injuries, but 15 people were killed and 170 were injured in the March blast.

Also, BP's plastics plant near Alvin had an explosion on August 10. It took two days to put out the resulting fire.

On August 12, the headline for the Spanish-language newspaper Rumbo de Houston said simply, "BP Bien Peligroso" - very dangerous.

"Today's recommendation from the CSB is a welcome development and we take it seriously," BP's CEO John Browne said in a statement. "We will move speedily to appoint an independent panel and offer it every help to do its job. When it reports, we will act with equal speed to deal with its recommendations."

Charlotte Wells of the Galveston Bay Conservation and Preservation Association is another person who welcomes the CSB report. The group is concerned about BP's plans to build a liquefied natural gas terminal on Galveston's Pelican Island. "We have been saying that there are many safety issues with this project, and now BP has been exposed as a company that has no regard for safety," she said.

Steven Adams, one of the workers BP fired after the March explosion, has sued the company for slander blaming him and five other workers for the accident. "They were telling the world that we killed 15 people," he charged. Adams said that the company on several occasions had rejected his and other workers' suggestions for safety improvements in favor of saving money.

BP leads the nation in refinery fatalities, 22 in the past 10 years, and in early March was put on the OSHA watch list of companies that are indifferent to worker safety.

The Texas City plant is the country's third largest refinery. It reported that damage resulting from the March explosions cost the company $200 million in lost business in one quarter. It also reported that it was setting aside $700 million to settle claims for deaths and injuries in the March accident. However, the company reported $17 billion in profits in 2004.\

The BP refinery is about 50 years old. In 2003 it won a lawsuit against the Galveston County Appraisal District and succeeded in reducing its tax valuation to $600 million from more than
$1 billion.

BP's stock fell slightly on Wednesday.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION ORDINANCE PASSES
By Ella Tyler

Houston City Council voted Wednesday to approve an ordinance that will allow historic buildings to be designated as protected landmarks and will permanently prohibit the destruction of such buildings, even after changes in ownership. "For the first time, we have real protection for historic buildings. Until today, an owner could demolish a designated historic building after giving 90 days public notice," David Bush of the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance said.

The ordinance passed unanimously, Bush said. "It really helped," he explained, "that Mayor White was very supportive throughout the process." He said, "Council members Adrian Garcia and Pam Holm also did outstanding work on crafting and passing the ordinance."

The ordinance allows owners of historic property to designate the property as a protected landmark and have that designation remain in place even if the property is sold. The protected landmark designation is made only upon an owner's request and may not be imposed by any governmental body. The property may be renovated with approval from the Houston Archeological and Historical Commission.

Buildings eligible to be named protected landmarks include those that were built before 1905, buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places, buildings that are already a recorded Texas Historic Landmark, and buildings that are "contributing buildings" in a National Register Historic District. Houston has seven historic districts.

The ordinance also allows protection for newer buildings that were designed by prominent architects, are a good example of an architectural style, or are connected with a famous person or event. Generally, protected landmarks must be at least 50 years old. However, buildings that are of exceptional importance to the citizens of Houston may also be named protected landmarks.

Buildings that are already designated as city landmarks do not automatically become protected landmarks, but may apply for this designation.

The ordinance also designates the following eight city-owned buildings as protected landmarks: City Hall, the Kellum-Noble House, the Julia Ideson Building, Heights Branch Library, Former Heights City Hall/Fire State No. 14, the Arthur B. Cohn House, Fire Station No. 7 (Houston Fire Museum), and Gregory School in Freedmen's Town.

Applications for protected landmark status are available at the City of Houston Planning and Development Department, 6th floor, 611 Walker. For more information, call Randy Pace at (713) 837-7796.

BUFFALO BAYOU ARTISTS TO LECTURE

Photographer Geoff Winningham and artist John Runnels will discuss the exhibit "This Most Enchanting Stream: Buffalo Bayou From Prints to Portals" on Wednesday, August 24, 7 pm, at Brazos Projects, 2425 Bissonnet. The exhibition uses photographs from Winningham's book Along Forgotten River and nineteenth-century books and prints to show how Buffalo Bayou has been represented throughout Houston's history. Runnels's models and designs for the portals, commissioned by the Buffalo Bayou Partnership to signal pedestrian access to the bayou along the new Sabine-to-Bagby promenade, are also shown.

Art consultant Diane Shamash will discuss the development of a civic art proposal for the Buffalo Bayou corridor. A reception will follow the talks. The exhibition, which is sponsored by Röhe & Wright Builders and the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, continues through August 31, 2005. For information, call (713) 752-0314, ext. 3.

AFTER-SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The Education Foundation of Harris County is adding new environmental education programs to its after-school projects and is seeking help from environmental organizations. In its first year, the after-school programs served more than 10,000 Harris County schoolchildren, kindergarten through 12th grade. The after-school program is a project of the Education Foundation and the Harris County Department of Education. To volunteer, contact Chantel L. Henderson at (713) 696-1322 or chenderson@hcde-texas.org.

ARTIST BOAT ARTS & ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR

ARTIST BOAT SEEKS ARTS & ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR to deliver its curriculum to K-5th grade students at Browning Elementary in Houston. Position involves developing and enhancing Artist Boat curricula to be age appropriate, utilizing an outdoor classroom on the campus as the principal teaching environment, and integrating art and science. The successful candidate will have a bachelor's degree in science or fine arts. This is a full-time position lasting through May 2006. The job requires seven hours of teaching, four days per week, and twelve hours of prep time each week. The pay is $470 a week. Apply to Karla Klay at 4919 Austin Place, Galveston, TX 77551, or kklay@artistboat.org. For more information, call (409) 770-0722 or see www.artistboat.org. The application deadline is August 22, 2005.

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