New Laws & Oversight needed after Texas Blast
The Texas fertilizer plant explosion that killed 15 people a year ago could have been prevented — and agencies at all levels haven't done enough to change the circumstances that led to the catastrophe, federal officials said Tuesday.
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board presented its preliminary findings about the blast in West, Texas, in front of a packed room of residents and town officials still rebuilding after the April 17, 2013, explosion leveled part of the tiny town and injured 200 people.
Even though several investigations have not determined the exact cause of the fire, the board says it's clear the owners of West Fertilizer Co. failed to safely store hazardous chemicals or prepare for a potential disaster. The board also said several levels of federal, state and local government missed opportunities to prevent the tragedy.
Investigators said the firefighters who rushed to an initial fire at the plant didn't know enough about the dangers they faced inside: 40 to 60 tons of ammonium nitrate, a chemical used in fertilizer that detonated due to the blaze.
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/4/22/feds-new-laws-oversightneededaftertexasblast.html
