Sat Apr 20, 2013, 11:04 AM

Homeland Security Regulations and the Texas Nitrate Explosion

(Reuters) - The fertilizer plant that exploded on Wednesday, obliterating part of a small Texas town and killing at least 14 people, had last year been storing 1,350 times the amount of ammonium nitrate that would normally trigger safety oversight by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Yet a person familiar with DHS operations said the company that owns the plant, West Fertilizer, did not tell the agency about the potentially explosive fertilizer as it is required to do, leaving one of the principal regulators of ammonium nitrate - which can also be used in bomb making - unaware of any danger there.

Fertilizer plants and depots must report to the DHS when they hold 400 lb (180 kg) or more of the substance. Filings this year with the Texas Department of State Health Services, which weren't shared with DHS, show the plant had 270 tons of it on hand last year.

A U.S. congressman and several safety experts called into question on Friday whether incomplete disclosure or regulatory gridlock may have contributed to the disaster.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/20/us-usa-explosion-regulation-idUSBRE93J09N20130420

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22 replies	Author	Time	Post
Homeland Security Regulations and the Texas Nitrate Explosion (Original post)	Ichingcarpenter	Apr 2013	OP
I'm expecting a bankruptcy filing by the parent company before any wrongful death suits are filed	LonePirate	Apr 2013	#1
+1	russspeakeasy	Apr 2013	#4
Then I hope they sue him personally. n/t	BlueToTheBone	Apr 2013	#7
Not just "negligence on the corporate side of the ledger",	bvar22	Apr 2013	#14
The tragedy in West, Texas, is a price a right-wing society willingly pays for the joys of living in	indepat	Apr 2013	#22
Good point, let's find out the name of the corporate executives who made decisions	KittyWampus	Apr 2013	#19
Thanks for posting this. Republican rule in action.	emulatorloo	Apr 2013	#2
It Truly Is GOP Rule In Action - Starve The Beast	dballance	Apr 2013	#3
Some expert said that	Cleita	Apr 2013	#5
OSHA is part of Dept of Labor	Ichingcarpenter	Apr 2013	#9
I know that. I was just mentioning it because if OSHA had been there to	Cleita	Apr 2013	#15
They had EPA violations too	Ichingcarpenter	Apr 2013	#17
The EPA violations were about ten years ago too, if I remember what I read 2003, I	Cleita	Apr 2013	#18
even if there were inspections, they end up getting fined and paying it as part of doing business.	KittyWampus	Apr 2013	#21
A lot like China, isn't it?	KittyWampus	Apr 2013	#20
"regulatory gridlock"	LiberalEsto	Apr 2013	#6
DHS requires reporting of 400 or more pounds of ammonium nitrate.	1KansasDem	Apr 2013	#8
the plant had 270 tons not pounds	Ichingcarpenter	Apr 2013	#10
I'm not defending the lack of reporting to the DHS.	1KansasDem	Apr 2013	#13
They owner probably had his head so far up Bush's ass!	gopiscrap	Apr 2013	#11
I read in Austin paper about the owner of this plant....	northoftheborder	Apr 2013	#12
Whether or not the incomplete disclosure contributed...	ljm2002	Apr 2013	#16

Response to Ichingcarpenter (Original post)

Sat Apr 20, 2013, 11:11 AM

LonePirate (13,196 posts)

1. I'm expecting a bankruptcy filing by the parent company before any wrongful death suits are filed

This explosion was caused by all sorts of negligence on the corporate side of the ledger.

Homeland Security Regulations and the Texas Nitrate Explosion

1. I'm expecting a bankruptcy filing by the parent company before any wrongful death suits are filed

4. +1

7. Then I hope they sue him personally. n/t

14. Not just "negligence on the corporate side of the ledger",

22. The tragedy in West, Texas, is a price a right-wing society willingly pays for the joys of living in

19. Good point, let's find out the name of the corporate executives who made decisions

2. Thanks for posting this. Republican rule in action.

3. It Truly Is GOP Rule In Action - Starve The Beast

5. Some expert said that

9. OSHA is part of Dept of Labor

15. I know that. I was just mentioning it because if OSHA had been there to

17. They had EPA violations too

18. The EPA violations were about ten years ago too, if I remember what I read 2003, I

21. even if there were inspections, they end up getting fined and paying it as part of doing business.

20. A lot like China, isn't it?

6. "regulatory gridlock"

8. DHS requires reporting of 400 or more pounds of ammonium nitrate.

10. the plant had 270 tons not pounds

13. I'm not defending the lack of reporting to the DHS.

11. They owner probably had his head so far up Bush's ass!

12. I read in Austin paper about the owner of this plant....

16. Whether or not the incomplete disclosure contributed...