Catherine J.K. Sandoval sworn in as Chemical Safety Board member

Washington — Catherine J.K. Sandoval was sworn in for a five-year term on the Chemical Safety Board on Feb. 2, returning a quorum to the short-staffed agency.

The Senate confirmed Sandoval’s nomination with a voice vote Dec. 13. She joins Chair Steve Owens and CSB member Sylvia Johnson, whose terms started in February 2022. Two seats remain unfilled.

“I am thrilled to begin my term as CSB board member,” Sandoval said in a press release. “I look forward to working with my fellow board members to continue to reduce the backlog in investigation reports and help increase safety at chemical facilities throughout this country.”

Sandoval will take a leave of absence from her work as a law professor at Santa Clara University, where she teaches and conducts research on energy, communications, antitrust and contract law. Before that, she served a six-year term as commissioner of the California Public Utilities Commission. She also is former undersecretary and staff director of California’s Business, Transportation and Housing Agency.