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

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
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