Fertilizer plant cited for 2006 permit violation A victim from the West fertilizer plant explosion is wheeled into Hillcrest Baptist Medical Hospital in Waco, Texas, Wednesday, April 17, 2013. / Jerry Larson/AP/Waco Tribune Herald WEST, Texas The Texas fertilizer plant where an explosion injured more than 100 people and killed an unknown number of others was cited for failing to obtain or to qualify for a permit in 2006. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality investigated West Fertilizer on June 20, 2006, after receiving a complaint June 9 of a strong ammonia smell. Agency records show that the person who lodged the complaint said the ammonia smell was "very bad last night" and lingered until after he or she went to bed. Fertilizer plant explodes in Texas Physics behind the Texas blast Wednesday night's explosion leveled the plant and severely damaged other area buildings. Authorities say people were killed, but they don't know how many. Authorities were still trying to evacuate area homes early Thursday morning. Meanwhile, the Dallas Morning News reports that documents show West Fertilizer told the Environmental Protection Agency that it presented no risk of fire or explosion, despite having 54,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia. According to the CDC, anhydrous ammonia can be immediately dangerous to life or health when handled improperly and "exposure can be fatal at high concentrations."