Blowup Over Ammonium Nitrate
JEFF JOHNSON · Chemical & Engineering News · 2013
Despite a century-long and worldwide history of tragic ammonium nitrate accidents, only a patchwork of inadequate U.S. safety regulations is in place to avoid more accidents involving this common fertilizer and deadly explosive. That is the primary conclusion of an investigation by the Chemical Safety & Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) of the West Fertilizer Co. ammonium nitrate explosion that killed at least 14 people in April and destroyed the small Texas community of West. The plant is similar to more than 6,000 other U.S. facilities that, the board said, also lack oversight. CSB presented its report at a volatile Senate Environment & Public Works Committee hearing on June 27. The hearing revealed severe regulatory shortcomings as well as a deep and fundamental division between the board and the Environmental Protection Agency, a split underscored by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and David Vitter (R-La.), the committee chair and ranking minority party ...