The Telegraph by By
Damien McElroy 18 April 2013 at 11:00
Neighbours of the fertiliser plant in West, Texas that blew up in a
devastating blast that injured and killed scores had complained as long ago
as 2006 of a worrying smell of ammonia wafting from the facility.
Documents held by the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality said that a
complaint of a "very bad" smell was lodged in June 2006.
Reports said the body had cited the plant for failure to obtain or qualify for
a permit.
After subsequent routine inspections the Commission made construction of a
wall between storage tanks of ammonia and the public road a condition of
renewal. It said there was a risk of vehicles careering off the road and
into the tanks.
But the body said the overall risk was low.
"The regional investigator described the area surrounding the facility as residential and farm land. There are two schools located within 3000 ft of this facility, however, the impact potential is described by the region as low," a report cited by the Dallas Morning News said. "The nearest off property receptor, a residence, is 350 ft from the plant."
The permit was then issued on December 12, 2006 when the Commission was happy with the work at the plant.
In the permit application lodged by the plant, West Fertiliser pledged to institute safety inspections for leaks at the tanks once each day and strictly regulate transfers of ammonia between the tanks. It also promised to limit storage levels to 85 per cent to maintain manageable vapour pressures. A water spray system was built to prevent accidental release of ammonia.
But the body said the overall risk was low.
"The regional investigator described the area surrounding the facility as residential and farm land. There are two schools located within 3000 ft of this facility, however, the impact potential is described by the region as low," a report cited by the Dallas Morning News said. "The nearest off property receptor, a residence, is 350 ft from the plant."
The permit was then issued on December 12, 2006 when the Commission was happy with the work at the plant.
In the permit application lodged by the plant, West Fertiliser pledged to institute safety inspections for leaks at the tanks once each day and strictly regulate transfers of ammonia between the tanks. It also promised to limit storage levels to 85 per cent to maintain manageable vapour pressures. A water spray system was built to prevent accidental release of ammonia.
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