A West Fertilizer Co. plant near Waco, Texas, that had over 50,000 gallons of anhydrous ammonia on hand, one of the ingredients used to make the ammonium nitrate in used by Timothy McVeigh to make his truck bomb, exploded last night due to a fire. Company officials had previously told the EPA its stocks of ammonia posed no risk to the public:
The fertilizer plant that exploded Wednesday night in West, Texas, reported to the Environmental Protection Agency and local public safety officials that it presented no risk of fire or explosion, documents show. […]
But the report, reviewed Wednesday night by The Dallas Morning News, stated “no” under fire or explosive risks. The worst possible scenario, the report said, would be a 10-minute release of ammonia gas that would kill or injure no one.
The second worst possibility projected was a leak from a broken hose used to transfer the product, again causing no injuries.
The plan says the facility did not have any other dangerous chemicals on hand. It says that the plan was on file with the local fire department and that the company had implemented proper safety rules.
The explosion, believed caused by a fire has killed several people (with the death toll likely to climb), injured many more and registered as a 2.1 Richter scale earthquake in Denver. The company had previously been cited for failing to get a required proper permit and had received past complaints from residents of an ammonia leak.
Ammonia is highly deadly substance and ammonia fires cannot be fought with water since that causes a deadly vapor cloud. Video of the fire can be seen here at this CNN link.
Another video of the explosion posted on YouTube can be seen here:
This explosion and fire occurred near a school and and apartment complex. Wide scale evacuations of the community of West, Texas, where the plant is located are ongoing. Authorities also fear a risk of further explosions from the sole remaining unexploded tank of ammonia at the facility.
Might I just say that this is one reason voluntary compliance and reporting by corporations of unsafe and dangerous chemicals and/or plant safety is an absolutely insane policy. I’d also note that the EPA, thanks to the sequester, has been forced to cut funds for inspections of “toxic air emissions, water discharges, and other sources of pollution that can cause illnesses and even death.”
Update [2013-4-18 8:15:50 by Steven D]: Windows were blasted out up to 40 miles away. Nearby nursing home destroyed and at least 60 homes lost. Fortunately many people were evacuated before the fire. Of those believed to be dead, several are firefighters and possibly police officers. Latest reports indicate close to 200 people injured.
Ps. Edited to correct misinformation as to McVeigh’s bomb. Mea culpa. The West Fertilizer company where the explosion occurred produced ammonium nitrate, one of the main ingredients used in the bomb that McVeigh exploded outside the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995.
This is so screwed up it’s almost funny. (Except for the deaths). What is it about Texas and exploding chemical plants, refineries, etc.? They certainly have more than their share. But of course, it’s Texas.
Their “regulatory” agencies don’t seem to care much for doing their jobs. But hey, Rick Perry is on the case, or so his spokesperson said, so everything is hunky-dory.
This Day in History: Fertilizer explosion kills 581 in Texas City
Ammonium nitrate disasters – Toulouse, France 2001
They never learn. This is what happens when large corporate interests own the government of a state. Much like West Virginia and the coal industry.
“Much like West Virginia and the coal industry.”
Yes, that immediately came to my mind too. I’m really beginning to think of our country as a hopeless corporate oligarchy where lip service is the only “service” our bought-and-sold legislators provide ordinary citizen peasants like me (and yeah, I say that as an attorney!)
Because, ya know, “Business, Freedom! Business, Freedom!” It’s depressing as hell.
Yeah, it was ammonium nitrate that McVeigh used, not anhydrous ammonia.
Ammonium nitrate is a solid, used as fertilizer. It can explode under the right conditions, but otherwise is fairly safe to handle.
Anhydrous ammonia (ammonia without water) is a deadly gas (or liquid, depending on pressure). Very different stuff.
Yes, you’re right – will correct.
Jus’ a cost o’ doin’ bidness. Tex-ass don’t care.
Tex-ass citizens have the power to do something. They don’t want to. Plus, the talking Plutocrat of the Day would just threaten to move the giant ammonia plant to an even crappier state, say, Oklahoma. So jobs, jobs, jobs, etc, etc. you can recite the braindead lines in your sleep.
Failure everywhere, that’s the New American Way. Yee-ha! Waaa-hooo!!
Just by the by. Flores, the rep from that district, voted against federal disaster relief for victims of hurricane Sandy.
Shocker!
Jumbo shrimp
So, who insures a business like this in Texas? Or is this billions in loses that the tax payers have to pick up?