TPM
The West, Texas fertilizer plant where a powerful explosion killed at
least 14 and injured dozens on Wednesday failed to disclose a massive
ammount of ammonium nitrate ordinarily regulated by federal officials,
according to Reuters.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security requires fertilizer plants
and depots to disclose amounts of ammonium nitrate, which can be used to
make a bomb, above 400 lbs. The West, Texas plant, West Fertilizer,
reportedly held 270 tons of the substance, 1,350 times that limit.
"This facility was known to have chemicals well above the threshold
amount to be regulated under the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism
Standards Act (CFATS), yet we understand that DHS did not even know the
plant existed until it blew up," Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) said in a
statement, according to Reuters.
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