Crosby plant explosion highlights state efforts to block access to chemical information
FOIFT2017-09-01T22:07:41-05:00By Emma Platoff and Jim Malewitz The Texas Tribune Originally published Sept. 1, 2017 Residents of Crosby, Texas woke Thursday morning to a 40-foot plume of black smoke darkening their sky. Don’t worry, said both government officials and personnel from Arkema, the owner of the plant emitting the fumes — there’s nothing toxic in your air. Locals had little choice but to take them at their word. That's because in recent years, state leaders have made it increasingly difficult for communities to learn what, exactly, sits inside the chemical plants in their neighborhoods — and just how dangerous it might be. The implications [...]