Proof that Government Regulations can save lives.

[wellendowed1911]

Have you guys wonder why Whirlway and COG have stayed clear away from the West Texas explosion??? Keep in mind that the Explosion got lost in the media with the Boston terrorist manhunt.
However, for the past years morons like Gov. Perry has sold the idea that businesses should come to Texas because it's a business friendly state and they don't have to deal with all the govt regulations that have been touted by the Right and Tea Party to be job killers. Even Romney mentioned many times that Govt regulations are job killers, but nowhere do they mention that they are life savers.
The West Texas plant explosion killed 15 people,injured 200 people and destroyed about 150 homes- so the damage greatly exceeded the Boston terrorist plot.
However, the west Texas plant slipped by the regulatory agencies and due to lack of regulations that they have in Texas- the plant stored more Ammonia Nitrate than what is normally allowed.

Here's some interesting data I just pulled from a site:

And the plant falls under the purview of an alphabet soup of regulatory agencies: the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), and the Office of Texas State Chemist.
Many of these agencies have previously cited and/or fined the company. But they aren’t required to coordinate with each other, and small distributors like the one that exploded are part of a system that focuses more on larger plants. Given its size, most of the inspections only happen after a complaint is made.
OSHA: OSHA records show that West Chemical & Fertilizer Co. hadn’t been inspected since 1985. Before that it had been issued a $30 fine for a serious violation for storing anhydrous ammonia, and OSHA cited it for four other serious violations but didn’t issue fines.
PHMSA: The PHMSA last inspected the West plant in 2011, when it issued a $10,100 fine for missing placards, transporting anhydrous ammonia in non-specification tanks, and “not having a security plan” in violation of Hazardous Materials Regulations. The plant took corrective action and reached a compromise with PHMSA in which it admitted to the violations and paid a lowered penalty of $5,250.
EPA: The EPA issued a $2,300 fine for the West plant in 2006 for failing to have a risk management plan that met federal standards. It wasn’t fined again after that, and in its report to the EPA, the plant stated “no” under the question of whether there were fire or explosive risks. It said the worst possible scenario would be a 10-minute release of ammonia gas that wouldn’t harm anyone.
TCEQ: A complaint of a strong ammonia smell triggered an investigation by the TCEQ in 2006, but it took the agency 11 days to inspect the plant. While at the plant, investigators also found that it had been operating for two years without an air quality permit, but after it cited the company and the company obtained the permit TCEQ didn’t return, as it usually doesn’t visit facilities unless there has been a complaint.
DHS: Fertilizer facilities are required to report to the DHS if they hold more than 400 pounds of ammonium nitrate. The plant in West held 270 tons of it, but it failed to report this as is required. The plant did report this to the Texas DSHS.
DSHS: The West plant submitted a Type II report as part of the Chemical Reporting Program for last year, in which it documented many hazardous chemicals in amounts that pose a risk of fire or reactivity. It reported 100,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia, which poses an short-term risk of fire, and 18,000 of ammonium nitrate in its largest container, which poses both a short-term and long-term risk of fire, among others. These reports serve as notification to the state that facilities have certain hazardous chemicals and can be used by first responders and the community to plan for emergencies. This information was not shared with DHS.


Keep in mind had there been tougher regulations in place this Fertilizer plant perhaps would have been fined or forced to remove a great amount of the ammonia nitrate it had stored- thus preventing a massive disaster.


Also, WhirlWay- the govt has issued millions of dollars for homes, shelters, food, medical care for those who were displaced- as the true American you claim to be- shouldn't govt not be involved in this situation. That area of West Texas is Conservative I wonder how many of them are going to refuse the Govt assistance- and remember this aid provides assistance to those who didn't even have home insurance- so WW and you Tea Partiers is it wrong for the govt to be using tax paying dollars in this manner- remember the Tea Party motto- keep Govt out of your lives- less Govt is better Govt. Hey it was bad what happened to people in West Texas- but if those citizens are true Conservatives or Tea Partiers I would like to see how many of them refuse Govt assistance.

[Jewish Lawyer]

OSHA: OSHA records show that West Chemical & Fertilizer Co. hadn’t been inspected since 1985. Before that it had been issued a $30 fine for a serious violation for storing anhydrous ammonia, and OSHA cited it for four other serious violations but didn’t issue fines.

Looks like the Feds missed it, didn't they? Regulations were in place, but government doesn't solve everything, does it?

[CJ7]

Originally Posted by Jewish Lawyer

OSHA: OSHA records show that West Chemical & Fertilizer Co. hadn’t been inspected since 1985. Before that it had been issued a $30 fine for a serious violation for storing anhydrous ammonia, and OSHA cited it for four other serious violations but didn’t issue fines.

Looks like the Feds missed it, didn't they? Regulations were in place, but government doesn't solve everything, does it?

the memory of the first responders deserve far more than being a topic of some half assed political message board

[jbravo_123]

If there was less regulation, the free market would've made it safer.

[i'va biggen]

One source stared they didn't know the plant existed till it blew up.

[CuteOldGuy]

The regulations don't mean crap if they're not enforced. That is the job the Feds gave themselves. WE, you just proved that the Federal Government is incompetent, and should not be given important responsibility.

[wellendowed1911]

Originally Posted by CuteOldGuy

The regulations don't mean crap if they're not enforced. That is the job the Feds gave themselves. WE, you just proved that the Federal Government is incompetent, and should not be given important responsibility.

Nope it just proves that we need tighter regulations and the assholes who think Govt should minimize regulations are idiots.


Also I see none of Tea nuts responded to my question on whether the govt should be providing homes/shelter/food for the displaced ince many Tea Nuts say the Govt should stay out of people's business.

[i'va biggen]

Originally Posted by CuteOldGuy

The regulations don't mean crap if they're not enforced. That is the job the Feds gave themselves. WE, you just proved that the Federal Government is incompetent, and should not be given important responsibility.

Here you have what you crow about a company that was unregulated and it exploded then you blame the government for no regulating it.can't have it both ways Jane.

[CuteOldGuy]

When have I ever said there should be NO regulation? This proves that the feds are incapable of enforcing regulations.

[Jewish Lawyer]

Originally Posted by i'va biggen

Here you have what you crow about a company that was unregulated and it exploded then you blame the government for no regulating it.can't have it both ways Jane.

The percentage of "companies that have exploded" is smaller than the miniscule amount of voter fraud that occurs due to a lack of proper ID.
It wasn't unregulated - the government failed to do their job. No amount of regulation can compensate for poor performance.

[Guest032516]

Originally Posted by wellendowed1911

Nope it just proves that we need tighter regulations and the assholes who think Govt should minimize regulations are idiots.

You narrowly focused on safety regulations related to explosive chemicals to draw the conclusion that anyone who wants to minimize regualtoin is an idiot. In fact, you simply showed you are an idiot with an ax to grind.

The regulations promulgated by government are nearly innumerable. Only a small percentage are related to safety. A large percentage of them do nothing by protect the business interests of one group at the expense of another.

We have regulations that prohibit people from cutting hair or doing nails unless they pay a bunch of money to attend a hundred or more hours of classes. The requirements are far in excess of the skills required to those jobs. And the regulations are favored by the people who are already in the salon business for no other reason than they want to make it difficult for competitors to start new businesses.

And the "funeral industrial complex" does everything in its power to make is expensive to people to die. There is absolutely no reason on earth why you should be force to buy a casket from a funeral home for $2000 or more when you could just as easily buy one online for half that prices or less.

But funeral parlor operators have paid off the politicians to pass laws to give funeral parlors a monopoly on the sales of caskets (although there are some changes in the wind for those laws).

Want to buy a car? Ever wonder why you have to buy them at a car dealership? Why can't buy one direct from Ford or GM? Unnecessary regulations promoted by the owners of car dealerships, that's why.

Ship wine interstate? Read this bullshit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wine_sh..._United_States

It's all about protection of state businesses, especially liquor distributors who would get bypassed by direct shipments.

So, no, you didn't prove we need tighter regulations. We need LESS regulations and the ones we keep need to be BETTER regulations that are actually enforced.

Originally Posted by wellendowed1911

Also I see none of Tea nuts responded to my question on whether the govt should be providing homes/shelter/food for the displaced ince many Tea Nuts say the Govt should stay out of people's business.

Your question is ridiculous.

Are we supposed to accept your implied premise that providing shelter and food is somehow interfering in someone's business? Well, it isn't and I don't accept it.

Tea Party members expect their taxes to be kept low and put to good use. Disaster relief would certainly fall into the "good use" category. It is temporary and it helps people who have bee harmed through no fault of their own.

This doesn't fall into the same category as providing PERMANENT housing for drug addicts and unemployed, high-school dropouts with 2 kids.

[JD Barleycorn]

WE have you thought this through? Apparently the regulations existed to stop this (as you suggest) but no one did their job. Government failed to do their job and save lives (as we suggest). So you are wrong and you just shot yourself in the crotch. That's gotta hurt! Maybe a new regulation to stop you from doing that.

[Whirlaway]

Like immigration and border security, the Feds didn't enforce the existing laws.

But the left wants more government powers ..

And the TP doesn't believe in NO government....helping those who are victims of these kinds of incidents is a good thing....helping millionaires who knowingly build in tidal surge zones is not.

[stardrive]

It is hard for me to believe all the bs policy and regulation s they invent and when they find the time whenever I see them on tv they are mostly snoozing.....

[Whirlaway]

Thanks for posting WE....it proves government is too big and should downsize to the basics that it is suppose go do.