A deadly explosion in West, Texas spurred the Obama administration to update regulations to the chemical industry.
A 2013 fire in a West, Texas chemical plant killed 15, including 12 volunteer fire fighters, and led the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to approve new regulations for the industry. "Twenty minutes after the fire started, the plant exploded — so powerfully that it registered as a 2.1-magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale," Meagan Flynn writes for The Washington Post.
After the 2013 tragedy the U.S. EPA took action: "The fatal blast prompted the Environmental Protection Agency to make serious changes to regulations about how companies store dangerous flammable chemicals and how they develop risk-management plans," Flynn reports.
Now those regulations are on the chopping block. EPA Secretary Scott Pruitt argues that eliminating rules around safe handling of flammable chemicals will save the industry $88 million. "The bulk of the claimed savings would come from getting rid of a rule requiring owners of a chemical plant to evaluate options for safer technology and procedures that would mitigate hazards," Flynn reports.
FULL STORY: Pruitt moves to rescind regulations inspired by West, Tex., chemical explosion that killed 15
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Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
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Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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Planetizen
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Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service