A new fertilizer plant is likely to be built near downtown Greenville, Texas.  The facility is causing concern to many, including residents and city officials, especially after the fertilizer plant explosion that devastated the town of West, Texas in the spring of 2013.

The facility is to be built in a populous area.  Nearby there are not only residential neighborhoods and downtown businesses, but also a juvenile detention center and a prison.

Those in favor of building the plant point out that plant accidents are a very rare occurrence, and in most situations such plants operate without incident.  Those opposed to it say that it is not a risk worth taking, and that safety should not be taken seriously only after an accident has occurred.

One of the chemicals that residents and opponents are concerned about is anhydrous ammonia, which is a dangerous and often fatal chemical that will be used and stored in the Greenville fertilizer plant.

The city has not yet taken an official stance on the project.  City officials are waiting to find out how the chemicals will be stored, and what safety precautions will be taken.  Unfortunately, even if they conclude that the fertilizer plant will not meet safety thresholds, there may not be much that they can do.  The area is already zoned for heavy industrial use, and that zoning can not be changed solely to keep the fertilizer plant from being opened.

In addition, the project has already received preliminary approval from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

As a result, many residents opposed to the project feel trapped and helpless to keep it from moving forward.

If you or a loved one have been injured in an industrial accident of any kind, the attorneys at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP can help.  Industrial accidents such as those that occur in fertilizer plants can be fatal.  We can help you get the compensation you need to recover.  Contact us today to discuss your case.