'No alarms, automatic shutoff system or firewall'

[babylonsister]

Posted with permission.

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/04/18/17813997-no-alarms-automatic-shutoff-system-or-firewall?lite

'No alarms, automatic shutoff system or firewall'
By Steve Benen
Video at link~
Thu Apr 18, 2013 4:12 PM EDT



The scene in West, Texas, is just devastating, and the story is still unfolding. After the fertilizer-plant explosion, as many as 15 people have been killed, more than 160 injured, dozens of buildings have been destroyed, and much of the community has seen awful damage.

What's more, it's worth emphasizing that there may yet be people trapped in rubble, and first responders and rescue crews are still working hard at the scene.

But once the area is able to catch its breath and begin to recover, I hope there will be a very serious conversation about workplace regulations.

The operators of the Texas fertilizer plant where at least five people died in a blast Wednesday told government regulators two years ago there wasn't a major risk of a fire or explosion from ammonia stored at the plant.

West Fertilizer Co. told the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2011 that it was storing up to 54,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia at the plant, north of Waco, as part of a required "risk-management plan." The plan said that neither fire nor explosion has been identified as a significant hazard, according to a summary of the plan on the website of the Center for Effective Government, a nonprofit group that posts the EPA data.

In the risk-management plan, West Fertilizer said the "worst-case scenario" would be an ammonia leak from a storage tank or hose. It didn't specify the likely consequences. The company said the plant had no alarms, automatic shutoff system or firewall.

Let me just repeat that last sentence again: "The company said the plant had no alarms, automatic shutoff system or firewall."

Rachel will have more on the story out of West on tonight's show.

[Cha]

1. That's terrible.. those people didn't stand a chance if

something went horribly wrong.

thanks babylonsistah

[Smilo]

2. And the right keep repeating "companies will

self-govern and if they don't well people will just go elsewhere" - they forget to mention the "elsewhere" is 6 ft under.

My thoughts and condolences to all those in West, Tx.

[pinboy3niner]

3. I'm not sure what they mean by "automatic shutoff system"

That's a concept familiar in the context of pipelines, where excess flow valves are used to shut down the flow of product automatically in the event of a breach. I'll look forward to hearing more details about this. In any case, it's good to see that Rachel will be addressing this story.

[Arctic Dave]

4. They are most likely referring to ESDs

Emergency shut down "panic buttons".

They vent the system of the feeder gas through a controlled burn at a flare pit and shut down the process system.

[pinboy3niner]

9. Thanks for the info, Dave

There will be a lot of questions about the status of the plant (some reports said it was 'shut down' at the time of incident, with no workers present), the origin of the fire, and the cause of the explosion. Members like you with some professional experience in the area will be a big help in walking us through some of the technical processes and issues.

[Cleita]

5. And people here are trying to tell me it has nothing to do with lax zoning and regulations. n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. It has all to do with lax regulations

Zoning laws in rural areas are a whole mess to enforce, even in California.

[Cleita]

8. I dunno, we do pretty good around here.

It all has to do with land use. It changes over time, but it's the local governments who change and enforce what it can be used for. Surely while the sheriffs are doing their rounds, they can notice a factory going up where a bean field once was? We had a royal fight here in SLO to allow Target to build on what once was zoned for nothing but agriculture. Surely, you don't believe Target could have just built there with no one noticing?

But actually in the long run fertilizers made with niter should be banned altogether because they eventually pollute the ground water. We throw away so much garden waste, food waste and animal waste that could be converted into organic compost. Our local agri college does do just that and I buy all that smelly compost for my garden.

Please no more factories making product that can also be used to make fire crackers and dynamite out of.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. I will ask a silly question

How often do you attend your board of supervisors? I do, and the sausage and favors are well, epic.

[Cleita]

11. We get it on NPR here and our Board doesn't get away with too much of the

favor thing. Also, I applied for Grand Jury here. I went for my first interview last week and if I get picked, I, along with the other jurors, will be their supervisors, like keeping an eye on them to keep them honest. So I don't know what goes on down there in Mr. Issa's district, but up here in spite of the redness of the area, here everyone one is watching everyone else.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. Issa represents a district from two counties

And he is not my rep, not even close

It's a good drive.

[Cleita]

13. Lucky you. I was always under the impression he was your rep.

So I don't know why you have patronage in your Board. Maybe time to look into it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. Jaysus, if there is one thing Daryl does not do is get

Involved with either the San Diego or Riverside County Boards...well beneath him.

Good that you are getting involved. Hope you get to see the fun...and who is well connected at the county level...may I recommend a few visits to county level republican events, chiefly chamber organized.

I am not blind to the problems here, nor do I like to think we live in paradise.

What we have are activists who are loud and well organized. Them are the stops to some of the worst. This is lacking in some red states, where citizens have lost the will to organize themselves.

and you know what? Our local chamber wishes them lib'ruls stopped as well.

[Cleita]

16. I've always been involved but mostly with the liberals and Democrats of this county.

Now I'm venturing a little further.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. They should have had a halon system

But them are expensive and have to be mandated by state government. Can't by the Feds.

[PD Turk]

14. Just two questions

Who owns this plant?

How much money do they have?

They need tp start forking it over to take care of this mess

[Cleita]

17. I was hoping it was DuPont Chemical but apparently this wasn't a factory but

a retail facility that sold to the farmers in the area.

[PD Turk]

18. well they need to pay

they need to pay until they're standing homeless in their underwear

[dixiegrrrrl]

19. Here is the company ownership info:

http://companies.findthecompany.com/l/898755/Adair-Grain-Inc-in-West-TX

Private company

[PD Turk]

20. Thanks! :) nt