West, Texas is a city located in McLennan County in central Texas. It has a population of approximately 2,800 people. On the evening of Wednesday, April 17, 2013, a massive explosion occurred in the small town. The West Fertilizer Company; which is owned by Adair Grain Inc. which held stocks of anhydrous ammonia and ammonium nitrate, among other agricultural products; was the center and cause of the explosion. This is not the first time such an explosion has occurred in the state of Texas; in 1947, in Texas City, Texas, an explosion that caused nearly 600 deaths contained ammonia as a key component of the explosion (Jonsson, 2013). Anhydrous ammonia is stored in liquid form in pressurized tanks and, after being sold to local farmers, they use it by injecting it directly into their soil where it then turns into a gas. It has a melting point of approximately -108 degrees Fahrenheit and an explosive range between a lower explosive limit (LEL) of 15% and an upper explosive limit (UEL) of 28% when mixed with air. Ammonium nitrate is usually found and used in its granular form where it is spread in fields as fertilizer. Ammonium nitrate does not generally, under normal circumstances, pose an explosion hazard on its own, but when combined with some sort of fuel it will act as an oxidizer during this process, literally adding fuel. fuel to the fire. “Both of these common fertilizers can become explosive under the right conditions.” (Fernandez & Schwartz, 2013) The West Fertilizer Company began operations in the small town from which it takes its name in 1962. It was licensed, licensed and inspected by the Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Agency environmental protection. (EPA) and the Texas Commission...... middle of article ......andez, M. and Schwartz, J. (April 18, 2013). Huge explosion at a fertilizer plant in Texas. New York Times. Fernandez, M. and Schwartz, J. (April 18, 2013). A factory explosion tears the heart of a Texas town. New York Times. Fink, J. (2013). West Fertilizer plant cited for safety violations. Dallas: CBS DFW. Formby, B. and Wilkins, E. (August 2, 2013). Obama and House target chemical regulation. The Dallas Morning News. Gebrekidan, S. and Schneyer, J. (May 3, 2013). Exclusive: Texas fertilizer plant has history of theft and tampering. Reuters. Gillam, C.M. (May 7, 2013). Stockpiles of ammonium nitrate exploded at Texas plant: state agency. Reuters. Jonsson, P. (2013). Why did West, Texas build homes and schools next to a "ticking time bomb"? Christian Science Monitor. Schneyer, J., McNeill, R., & Roberts, J. (April 20, 2013). Texas Fertilizer Company Ignored Disclosure Rules Before Explosion. Reuters.