Biden nominates Catherine J.K. Sandoval for Chemical Safety Board

Washington — President Joe Biden has nominated Catherine J.K. Sandoval to serve as a member of the Chemical Safety Board.

If confirmed, Sandoval, a law professor at Santa Clara University, would serve a five-year term. She would be the third CSB board member confirmed under the Biden administration. The agency currently has two vacant seats.

Sylvia Johnson and Steve Owens were sworn in for their five-year terms Feb. 2, and joined CSB Chair and CEO Katherine Lemos, who had served as a quorum of one since May 1, 2020.

According to her biography released by the White House, Sandoval teaches and conducts research on energy, communications, antitrust and contract law at Santa Clara. She previously served a six-year term as commissioner of the California Public Utilities Commission.

Additionally, Sandoval is a former director in the Federal Communications Commission Office of Communications Business Opportunities. She also served as undersecretary and senior policy advisor for housing under former California Gov. Gray Davis (D), and was a staff director for the state’s Business, Transportation and Housing Agency. In the latter role, Sandoval worked with law enforcement on hazardous incident response, among other duties.

Sandoval’s nomination was referred to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which will likely conduct a confirmation hearing at a date to be announced.