The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board is seeking a nearly 13% increase to its 2021-fiscal-year budget to help fund increased personnel costs and implementation of a new chemical incident reporting rule.

In the request, which has been submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives, the non-regulatory agency is seeking $13.54 million for the 2021-FY and a one-time outlay of $400,000 for services and equipment to support the new rule. On June 3, the House proposed allocating the agency $12 million for 2021.

Earlier this month, the agency announced it's seeking a rule that would require owners or operators of facilities to notify the board if there's an accidental release of a regulated substance or hazardous chemical that results in a death, serious injury, or substantial property damage.

This reporting is required under the CSB's enabling legislation but a final rule on that reporting has never been approved by the CSB directors in its 20-year history, according to the agency. Last year, a court ordered the board to finalize such a rule.

Read the full budget request here.

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