EPA rolls back regulations written after fatal 2013 explosion in West, Texas
Source: Houston Chronicle
The Trump administration on Thursday reversed a series of chemical safety regulations created in response to a 2013 explosion in West, Texas that killed 15, injured more than 200 and flattened much of the farming community south of Dallas.
Under the new rule, companies will not have to do third-party audits or a root-cause analysis after an incident. They also will not have to provide the public access to information about what type of chemicals are stored in these facilities either.
Among the reasons cited by the Environmental Protection Agency for the rule reversal were potential security risks in disclosing chemical plant inventories and facility locations to the public, the economic cost for companies to follow the rules, and reducing “unnecessary regulations.”
“Accident prevention is a top priority of the EPA and this rule promotes improved coordination between chemical facilities and emergency responders, reduces unnecessary regulatory burdens, and addresses security risks” arising from past changes to risk management rules, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said in a written statement.
Read more: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/EPA-rolls-back-regulations-written-after-West-14853861.php
= new reply since forum marked as read
and it's likely to result in more tragedies in the future. If there is anything that can be taken away from the explosion, it is that some communities became much more aware of the potential problems and that firefighters received better training to respond to those risks.
Unfortunately, most communities have some type of business in their midst that could leave to potential problems. Most of those businesses were established before any corporate entity became involved. The fertilizer company in West was located on the outskirts of town with few surrounding neighbors. It was within the past twenty years that residences were built near that plant.
FWIW, I've driven by that property not only on Interstate 35, but also on the back county road seen in the photo that I used as my "relief route" 
from Elm Mott to Hillsboro. The fertilizer company never raised my attention until after the explosion occurred. If you are ever in West, Texas make sure to stop by the Little Czech Bakery on the interstate since they have great kolaches.
Might as well say that to anything these whatevers are doing?
