NTSB Decides Not to Hold Hearing on Bridge Collapse
Reactions are mixed to the National Transportation Safety Board's decision not to hold a public investigative hearing on last August's Minneapolis bridge collapse. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) has blasted the decision and says such a hearing would be valuable. According to published reports, Minnesota's U.S. Senators are divided on the issue, with Norm Coleman [R] saying he supports the board's decision and Amy Klobuchar (D) saying a hearing should be held.
In releasing several reports March 17 on the bridge accident, NTSB Chairman Mark V. Rosenker said the safety board had agreed with recommendations by its investigative staff not to have an interim investigative hearing. The board's vote was 3-2, says Terry Williams, a safety board spokesman.