After explosion kills 14-year-old, Louisiana wants tighter safety rules on oil field tank batteries

The Louisiana state Office of Conservation is proposing new safety rules for tank batteries after a tragic explosion in February. One of these batteries, used to store oil and waste salt water, exploded, sending 14-year-old Zalee Gail Day-Smith hundreds of feet into the air, killing her. These tanks were unmarked and unprotected despite their explosive contents. The proposed safety rules would require tank batteries close to homes, schools, churches, and roads to have fencing, signage, and other protective measures to ensure people do not get too close. The threat of these batteries has been known for years, and the US Chemical Safety Board even warned of the threat posed to rural communities by these tanks nearly a decade ago. Although the tragic death of Zalee is heartbreaking, it is hopeful that it will usher in new safety precautions to prevent a similar tragedy from occurring again in Louisiana.