Crime not ruled out in West, Texas, fertilizer plant blast

[ScreamingMeemie]

Source: Associated Press

snip-

WEST, TX -- Investigators have not ruled out criminal activity as the cause of a massive explosion at a fertilizer plant that killed at least 14 people and flattened part of a tiny Texas town, two officials familiar with the findings said Thursday.

The April 17 blast at West Fertilizer injured 200 and leveled part of the tiny town of West. Officials have spent one month combing through debris and speaking to hundreds of witnesses.

But they have not yet been able to pinpoint the cause, the officials said.

One state official who's seen a report on the probe told The Associated Press investigators are focused on a golf cart on the premises that had been recalled by its manufacturer, an electrical problem or possible criminal activity. A second law enforcement official briefed on the findings confirmed no definitive cause has been found.

-snip

Read more: http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/state&id=9105306

[Archae]

1. Bullshit.

The owner broke a number of rules, and when a minor fire broke out, it spread to all the explosive fertilizer he has illegally stockpiled.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. Except, now this breaking news:

Ammonium nitrate ruled out as cause of Texas blast;
not ruled out is electrical system, a golf cart or 'intentionally set fire' - live video
http://www.breakingnews.com/topic/texas-fertilizer-plant-explosion-april-2013

[silvershadow]

5. If it wasn't the cause, the illegal stockpiling certainly cause it to be a much bigger disaster, no?

I mean, we aren't talking 3 times the amount. It as magnitudes above that, whatever the number (I don't have the estimate handy).

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. Official: The amount of ammonium nitrate that exploded in Texas blast was 28 to 34 tons -

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Result-of-West-Explosion-Investigation-to-be-Revealed-Wednesday-207430681.html?_osource=SocialFlowTwt_DFWBrand

[One_Life_To_Give]

10. Which OSHA or EHS regulation

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/04/23/1203910/-West-Fertilzer-Co-was-Likely-in-Compliance-with-EHS-Rules#

As dailykos points out. They are likely in compliance with Health and Safety Regulations.

[DallasNE]

2. About A Month Ago

It was reported that an individual that lives in West, TX was arrested for being in possession of a pipe bomb. No dots could be connected to the plant fire, however. That may be in the background for not ruling out criminal activity. That blast was so powerful I doubt they will ever be able to determine the exact cause.

[Kingofalldems]

3. The crime of deregulation.

[mojowork_n]

7. No secret. AP reported there were break-ins...

...with burglars looking for a 'pre-cursor' chemical for making meth:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/05/03/fertilizer-plant-explosion-texas-burglars/2133829/

WEST, Texas (AP) — Burglars occasionally sneaked into a Texas fertilizer plant in the years before its deadly explosion last month — sometimes looking for a chemical fertilizer that can be used to make methamphetamine, according to local law enforcement records.

Way too many chemicals stored on the premises -- shipping and buying in bulk is cheaper.
Way too few regular employees -- running the facility on the cheap.
Way too lax operation and oversight -- government in TX run on the cheap.

....There's a pattern there that may lead to a conviction proving criminal negligence, at least.

[MADem]

8. Well, let's see...it could be a golf cart, it could be an electrical problem, it could be because

Ole' Roy peed on that pile of stuff over there....

They really don't seem to be killing themselves, pardon the bad pun, to find out what the hell is going on here. A LOT of people died in this mess, and hundreds were hurt.

This seems to be less of a probe, or an investigation, than a "Gee, think it might be that thing over there?" type exercise. Are these guys even holding regular press conferences?

Is it because I am far from the region where this happened that I get a sense that the TX authorities aren't treating this with the same sort of urgency as other tragedies? Or are they not saying much in TX, either?

[blkmusclmachine]

9. .

.