To: Governor Greg Abbott
We need stronger oversight of hazardous facilities to prevent tragedies like in West, Texas
Gov. Perry: With stronger state oversight, we may have been able to prevent the tragedy in West, Texas. It is critical that we strengthen, not weaken, safety and permitting standards and inspection and enforcement programs.
Why is this important?
Last week, a massive explosion leveled the West, Texas, fertilizer plant, and claimed the lives of 14 firefighters and nearby residents and injured over 200, rocking the rural farming town to its core. According to the Dallas Morning News, experts say the disaster in West, Texas, "was easily predictable and probably preventable if anyone from any agency had discussed simple safeguards with the company." Despite this, Gov. Perry said he's "comfortable" with the level of state oversight of these kind of facilities. Gov. Perry made an even bolder claim—the majority of Texans agree with him. Tell Gov. Perry you disagree and want stronger state oversight of hazardous and polluting facilities.