Smoking gun in West, Texas, fertilizer blast: lack of government oversight

[white cloud]

While the cause of the blast in West, Texas, is still undetermined, what is clear is that the West Fertilizer Company stored large quantities of reactive products in the middle of a small town with little state or federal oversight. Citizens must be empowered to act when regulators don't.

By Thomas O. McGarity / April 29, 2013





The tragic explosion at a West, Texas, fertilizer plant April 17 is the most recent manifestation of a badly debilitated system of regulatory protections.




Why did West, Texas, build homes and a school next to a 'time bomb'?



United in adversity: West, Texas, prays for Boston, which sends pizzas to West


To boost the economy, burst the regulatory bubble

.





Although the cause of the blast is still undetermined, what is clear is that the West Fertilizer Company stored large quantities of highly reactive products, including anhydrous ammonia and ammonium nitrate, in the middle of a small town with very little oversight from state or federal agencies. Ammonium nitrate was used by the Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh in 1995, killing 168 people. The West, Texas, explosion killed 14, and injured nearly 200.


ANOTHER VIEW: To boost the economy, burst the regulatory bubble




http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2013/0429/Smoking-gun-in-West-Texas-fertilizer-blast-lack-of-government-oversight

[Ilsa]

1. Has the owner of the company offered up any funds

to help the people begin to rebuild their lives? Or is the bastard circling the wagons?

[white cloud]

2. Adair has offered his condolences

and that it so far. Lawyer are lining up for the buffet.