We’ve already discussed how the West Fertilizer Company did not report hundreds of thousands of pounds of explosive ammonium nitrate to local or federal authorities and did not inform local authorities that there was a risk of fire or explosion at the plant, but now we learn that this malfeasance extends far beyond the company itself.
According to local ABC affiliate KVUE, the man listed as the head of the Local Emergency Planning Committee has never even heard of the Local Emergency Planning Committee.
The LEPC’s job, is to “develop an emergency response plan, review it at least annually, and provide information about chemicals in the community to the citizens,” the act reads. [...]
The federally mandated body of community leaders designed to plan for such hazards did not exist in McLennan County. The official listed as the head of the McLennan County LEPC is County Judge Scott Felton. Felton, appointed to the post last year, told WFAA in an interview that he’s never heard of the LEPC.
McLennan County Emergency Operations Coordinator Frank Patterson said he has no knowledge of an emergency planning committee or any meetings with officials in West about potential risks in the community.
After requesting any evidence of LEPC operations, meetings, plans of actions or plans for evacuations, especially with respect to hazards posed at the fertilizer company in West, Patterson’s office said no such information exists.
I don’t want to make light of this because 15 people, mostly first responders, are dead because of it and hundreds more have been injured or lost their homes. But holy shit. The ineptitude jumps off the page at you. These shitkickers are responsible for a great deal of the human and financial cost of this disaster.
Will anyone be held accountable for this?