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[devilgrrl]

This message was self-deleted by its author (devilgrrl) on Sat Aug 17, 2013, 07:38 AM. When the original post in a discussion thread is self-deleted, the entire discussion thread is automatically locked so new replies cannot be posted.

[TheMastersNemesis]

1. Gone And Forgotten.

[kelliekat44]

2. Under the rug. Brings back too much talk about regulations, unions, worker rights etc. move on.

[NoPasaran]

3. It's being covered in Texas

For example:
http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/local/officials-west-investigation-could-be-completed-so/nXdGd/?icmp=statesman_internallink_textlink_apr2013_statesmanstubtomystatesman_launch

[LeftInTX]

5. Barbara Boxer is calling for a senate investigation

http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2013/04/california-sen-barbara-boxer-pledges-investigation-into-west-fertilizer-plant-explosion/

The Texas legislature is also holding hearings. The hearings are covered in local newspapers and mentioned on the news.

[MineralMan]

6. You're asking the wrong question.

It's essentially a local story, now, and the local media is covering it. National media does not stay on local stories long, and that's quite natural. The right question is whether investigations are continuing. The answer to that question is yes.

If you want to follow the story, you'll find coverage in the local media where it occurred. The national media has moved to cover other stories. I wouldn't expect anything different, frankly.

[badtoworse]

8. "nothing to see here" - You're right from what I can see

This was a tragic accident in which negligence likely played a part. The level of negligence may even support criminal charges. That is basically the story as far as I know - what else is there to report?

[badtoworse]

11. There likely are codes that govern how the material should have been stored

It is possible that revisions to those codes may be made after the accident is fully investigated. It's likely that the facility was subject to inspection by the Fire Marshall or other regulatory agencies. If so, the results of previous inspections will be reviewed. Changes to the inspection procedures and fines for non-compliance may occur once all the facts are known.

At the end of the day, Texas was an accident and Boston was an intentional act. There is a world of difference bewteen the two.

ETA: It's not being swept under the rug; it's just not news anymore.

[eilen]

30. I'm pretty sure the negligence was intentional. They didn't accidentally

store 1000x the chemicals they were supposed to. The zoning approved a school and nursing home next to the place, 50 homes flattened and the town was effectively shut down as at least half the first responders blew up with it. I guess if there is no dramatic car chase the media doesn't care. I guess because the villain is a corporation and a laissiz-faire Republican Red State and not a foreigner.. well, good old boys get protected from the media. Now, if this were an incident of extreme weather-- tornado, hurricane, we would be inundated 24-7.

[badtoworse]

31. Where did the 1000x come from? This is the first I've heard of it.

[eilen]

32. Here's the article.

NYTimes article



"After the Sept. 11 attacks, Congress passed a law requiring plants that use or store explosives or high-risk chemicals to file reports with the Homeland Security Department so it can increase security at such facilities. That requirement includes any plant with more than 400 pounds of ammonium nitrate, but a Homeland Security official said that West Fertilizer had not filed such a report, even though it had 1,350 times that amount. The plant is not on the department’s list of 4,000 facilities with high-risk chemicals, and one official said it might have been placed on that list if it had filed a report."

[badtoworse]

35. They were in violation of that regulation, but it's not clear that was a factor in the accident...

unless it's determined that the explosion was deliberately caused. The fact that they were not in compliance with that regulation makes their compliance with other regulations suspect. As I said though, we need to know all the facts.

[MineralMan]

13. Nope. It's not being swept under the rug.

It's just not being covered in the national news media. Go look at the local media if you want to follow the story. That's how it is with every such industrial accident. National media only covers such things for a short time. That's always the case.

[MineralMan]

15. What's more important is whether or not there is

a serious investigation. That the national media doesn't cover it doesn't really matter all that much.

As for Boston, that was an intentional act in a public place. That makes it far more important as a new story, really. The story also keeps unfolding. So, it's getting coverage.

In this country, there are industrial accidents on a fairly frequent basis. Each one is investigated. The reasons why they happened are determined and lawsuits usually follow. It's not that interesting in general. Was this one somehow different? I doubt it. Most industrial accidents are not that different. There is almost always some negligence involved, which gets uncovered in the end, if you bother to stick with the story until determinations are made.

Bombings in public places, on the other hand, affect us all, since we're all in similar public places. That's why people are more interested in news coverage.

Bottom line is that it's not going to change, the news coverage I mean. It's simply not. If you want to follow the story of the Texas explosion, you can. Most people don't want to follow it, so it isn't in the news any longer.

[MineralMan]

17. This is not "before the internet."

That is a fact. "Before the Internet," this story would have been covered even less. If you want to follow the story, you, or anyone else, can do so easily. I don't see the problem. You're interested in following this story. Not everyone is. When the results of the investigation are complete, that will be a news item nationally. Right now, though, there's no real news to report. You're asking the national news to follow every industrial accident continuously until it is resolved in some way? That's simply not going to happen. Choose the stories you want to follow and use the Internet. That's what all of us do.

And, yes, random bombings in public places do affect us all more than isolated industrial accidents do. If we work in an industrial setting, we can observe what precautions are taken or not taken. There's no such ability in a public place that could be attacked at any time by anyone.

This has nothing to do with me and my comments. It's a thread on DU. I'm commenting in that thread. I comment in many threads. You posed a question, and I'm answering your question. There's no need for insults, really.

[MineralMan]

23. If disagreeing with you constitutes lecturing,

then I'm lecturing. It's DU. Any DUer can reply to any post, and replying to posts is something I do quite a bit. What you think about my replies is your concern, not mine.

[oldhippie]

24. You said, "Let me ask you." ...

You asked a question. You got an answer. Now you complain about lecturing.

That's annoying.

Seriously, you don't want reporting, you want the press to beat a drum for you about a pet peeve.

JM2C

[Fumesucker]

33. Industrial accidents kill more than just those who work in the industry

In the specific case of West, TX that is indeed the case.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/04/20/numerous-injuries-reported-in-large-explosion-at-texas-fertilizer-plant/

"The devastation is immense," said Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott of West, Texas, while another official added, "There are homes flattened. Part of that community is gone."

The explosion occurred around 8 p.m. Wednesday and could be heard as far away as Waxahachie, a town 45 miles north. Flames spiraled into the evening sky and rained burning embers, shrapnel and debris down on frightened residents.

A member of the West City Council, Al Vanek, said a four-block area around the explosion at the West Fertilizer Co. Plant was "totally decimated."

[badtoworse]

34. Bhopal, India is the best example of that

IIRC, there were about 2,000 casualties from a chemical plant leak.

[laundry_queen]

9. They never did really cover it

I got most of my info from Canadian news channels - they had FAR superior coverage. CNN et al were busy with Boston and clearly unable to multitask.

[jtown1123]

12. Need to keep lifting up the story and forcing media to cover

it's absolutely unacceptable how this was handled:

www.aflcio.org/westTX

[redqueen]

19. It's being covered locally.

In Texas, I mean. Saw an update this morning. Lots of finger pointing going on, as you might expect.

The latest? 'It's the local fire chief's job to carry out inspections.' West is one of the many rural towns with a VFD (and therefore, no fire chief).

[redqueen]

21. I suspect that's because we all agree about workplace safety,

but we have some here who are closer to the NRA than not.

[badtoworse]

25. If it makes you feel better, not every industry and company disregards worker safety

I've spent a good part of my career in power plant operations working for several companies. At all of the compamies I worked for, worker safety is the highest priority. We work around high voltage, in enclosed spaces and at times use hazardous materials. Our EH&S mauals were strictly enforced by specialists that did not report to plant managers (they reported to senior management). At the same time, the plants were scrupulous in their compliance with environmental regulations. Violations were rare and were reported to the regulators when they did occur.

It's been my experience that that level of diligence with respect to worker safety and environmental stewartdship is typical of the electric power business.

There is no excuse for negligence in these areas and I expect that stiff fines will be assessed when the whole story is known. Additionally, I would expect that standards and inspection procedures will be reviewed and potentially changed. Don't assume that because you're not seeing it on the national news, nothing is happening. Based on my experience, there is probably a lot going on behind the scenes.

[Skittles]

26. the hypocrisy down here is ASTOUNDING

they diss the feds, yet take their money and lie about it, then BRAG about how independent they are

[redqueen]

28. Yep. I don't know if they're shameless liars or just very, very stupid.

I'm leaning toward liars, though.

Their incessant, idiotic blathering makes me miss Molly Ivins so much. She could bring out the humor and make it seem a little less depressing, and throw in some history or back story too. Sigh, I miss her.

[Skittles]

29. oh believe me, they are both liars and VERY, VERY STUPID

this state is FILLED with them

[former9thward]

22. Big article about it today in the Wall Street Journal

Fight Brews Over Tighter Plant Rules
Safety, Environmental Advocates Push for Chemical Regulations, as Cause of Texas Blast Still Unknown

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324582004578457200515157558.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1 I read the print article but I think it is a paywall online.

[MineralMan]

27. Thanks. I guess the media is covering it, after all.