THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

       PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES LOIS N. EPSTEIN AS A MEMBER OF THE
             CHEMICAL SAFETY AND HAZARD INVESTIGATION BOARD

     The President today announced his intent to nominate Lois N.

Epstein, P.E. as a member of the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSHIB).

Ms. Epstein, of Huntington, New York, has worked for Environmental Defense, formerly Environmental Defense Fund, in Washington, D.C. as an engineer for 12 years. Previously, Ms. Epstein worked for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and two consulting firms in the private sector. Most of Ms. Epstein's work has focused on developing performance measures that advance pollution and accident prevention, particularly within the petroleum, vehicle assembly, steel making and governmental sectors of the economy. Ms. Epstein is a licensed professional engineer in the State of Maryland.

Ms. Epstein received 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 Clean Air Act of 1990 established the independent CSHIB. The purpose of the CSHIB is to investigate chemical accidents and report the facts, conditions, circumstances, and probable cause of any accidental release resulting in a fatality, serious injury, or substantial property damage. The CSHIB shall make these reports available to Congress, the public, and the appropriate Federal agencies. The CSHIB also works to reduce the consequences of chemical incidents and their occurrence through improved chemical processes, handling, and storage.

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