Government Deficiencies in West, Texas Explosion

Open email to Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS) and Sen. Thomas Carper (DE):

Dear Rep. Thompson and Sen. Carper,
    This concerns the explosion of the ammonium nitrate plant at West, Texas last April. Chemical and Engineering News has a 2 1/2 page article in its May 27 issue concerning government responsibility related to that explosion. Rep. Thompson was mentioned as a member on the House Committee on Homeland Security and Sen. Carper was mentioned as Committee Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee. Congratulations to both of you for your interest in pursuing government inefficiency, which allowed this disaster to occur.
    According to C&E News, the primary fault for the explosion appears to lie with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which is supposed to operate a Chemical Facilities Anti-terrorism Standards Program (CFATS). The six-year-old program is supposed to safeguard facilities that produce store, or use hazardous chemicals that could be exploited by terrorists to inflict mass casualties in the US. The West, Texas explosion was not a result of terrorist activities, but the presence of large quantities of explosive ammonium nitrate made it amenable for a terrorist action. In simple terms, DHS was not doing its job through CFATS to protect the public from explosive disaster.
    Janet Napolitano is the Sec. of the Department of Homeland Security and the buck stops with her.. CFATS has had six directors since its inception. With her poor record involving CFATS and and other deficiencies, which I'm sure you can find, it is apparent that Sec. Napolitano is a poor administrator. I call for her ouster.
    In a separate article in the Concentrates Section of the same C&E News edition, it is reported that the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) was blocked from examining evidence at the West, Texas ammonium nitrate explosion. I am normally critical of most government agencies and sub agencies, but one that has my high regard is the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. It has done a tremendous job in investigating previous fires, explosions, and similar disasters leading to information, which when applied will reduce subsequent disasters.
    According to C&E News, the CSB investigation was blocked  by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Texas State Fire Marshals Office. Presumably the block was instituted because there was a criminal investigation by the latter two agencies. I find this ridiculous! There Is no reason that I can see why the CSB could not have simultaneously investigated the accident, while the other two agencies were collecting any evidence that they needed. I call on you to see that the CSB in future should not be blocked from their investigation responsibilities by other agencies of the federal or state government.
    Thank you for your attention to this whole matter. I'm sure I speak for many others in expressing appreciation for your efforts to reduce similar future hazards by use of efficiently active federal procedures.