West Virginia Agriculture Commissioner Walt Helmick said Tuesday the partial federal government shutdown won’t affect his agency’s operations.
Helmick said in a news release that the Department of Agriculture is continuing daily inspections at livestock slaughter and processing facilities.
The department also is continuing surveillance of egg and dairy products, testing poultry flocks for disease and conducting other routine activities.
Helmick said the department has broad powers under the state code to conduct inspections, enact embargoes and quarantines, and to deal with any livestock disease outbreaks.
Author: Associated Press
Group appeals PSC order approving billion-dollar power plant deal
West Virginia Citizen Action Group says it will appeal the approval of a $1.1 billion deal for the sale of the Harrison Power Station.
The Public Service Commission approved the transaction late Monday, saying it would reduce Mon Power rates by $16 million a year.
The deal involves Ohio-based FirstEnergy subsidiaries Mon Power and Potomac Edison, and affiliate Allegheny Energy Supply.
Mon Power is buying the 80 percent of the 1,984-megawatt plant that it doesn’t currently own. In exchange, Mon Power will sell 8 percent of its interest in the Pleasants Power Station to Allegheny Energy Supply.
Opponents say the transaction is inflated by $257 million and is bad for consumers.
West Virginia Citizen Action says that price markup ruling violates stipulations of the merger agreement and contradicts commission policy.