Tag: Energy & Environment

Appalshop's 'Chemical Valley'

With the January 9 chemical leak from Freedom Industries leading to the water supply being compromised for 300,000 residents who rely on West Virginia American Water, the ripple effects are sure to impact our state, our region, and possibly even the entire nation on environmental, political, and cultural levels. Yet, concerns over the safety of the environment and health of the local population are nothing new around the Kanawha Valley.

Mimi Pickering and Anne Lewis of Appalshop produced a 1991 documentary titled Chemical Valley about events in the Kanawha Valley in the wake of Union Carbide’s  Bhopal disaster in 1984 and a series of frightening chemical leaks that led citizens to demand the right to know and to be protected from toxic chemicals produced and stored there.

In describing her film, Pickering said Chemical Valley: “looks at the realities of environmental racism as residents of Institute describe the price they pay, and the few rewards they receive, from living next to this dangerous plant.”
 

You can watch the hour-long film in two parts here:

Public Service Commission Wants Water Company to Extend Quality Reports

The Public Service Commission's Consumer Advocate Division wants the agency to continue requiring West Virginia American Water to submit quarterly reports…

The Public Service Commission’s Consumer Advocate Division wants the agency to continue requiring West Virginia American Water to submit quarterly reports on service quality.
 
A 2011 order issued by the PSC requires the company to submit the reports through the fourth quarter of 2013. The Consumer Advocate Division asked the PSC on Wednesday to continue the requirement until further notice.
 
The division’s motion cites a Jan. 9 chemical spill in Charleston that contaminated the water supply of 300,000 residents.
 
The 2011 order came in a case involving the water company’s staffing levels.

Utility Bills up 1.2% in 2013 for West Virginia Residents

A new report says West Virginians paid 1.2 percent more for utilities in 2013 than in the previous year, primarily because of increases in natural gas and…

A new report says West Virginians paid 1.2 percent more for utilities in 2013 than in the previous year, primarily because of increases in natural gas and water rates.  
 
     The report released Wednesday by the Public Service Commission’s Consumer Advocate Division says the average West Virginia utility customer paid $280.62 a month for gas, electricity, water and telephone service last year. In 2012, the average monthly cost was $277.22.  
 
     Utility rates ranged from $258.82 in Morgantown to $316.25 in Bluefield.  
 
     Consumer Advocate Division director Jackie Roberts says the increases in natural gas and water rates last year were offset by a decline in electricity rates.
 
     Roberts said rates have increased by 18 percent for water and 7 percent for electricity since 2010. Natural gas rates have fallen 18 percent.

Gov. Tomblin Unaware of Freedom Industries Donations

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin says he was unaware he received campaign checks from top executives at the company at the center of West Virginia’s chemical spill.
 
     The Democrat said he found about donations from two Freedom Industries executives from news articles Wednesday morning.
 
     J. Clifford Forrest, who runs Freedom’s parent company, gave Tomblin’s campaign $500 in 2011 and $500 in 2012. Dennis Farrell, another Freedom executive, gave $500 total to Tomblin in 2011.
 
     W.Va. Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito received $500 from Forrest last February for her current US Senate bid. US Sen. Joe Manchin received $1,000 from Forrest for his 2008 run for governor. Both are giving the money to West Virginia charities.
 
     The Freedom donations make up a sliver of the millions of dollars raised for each respective campaign.

Downstream Strategies Pres. Critical of Governor's Proposed Source Water Protection Act

The President of Downstream Strategies is in Charleston presenting his organization’s report on the Elk River chemical spill to lawmakers. Meanwhile,…

The President of Downstream Strategies is in Charleston presenting his organization’s report on the Elk River chemical spill to lawmakers. Meanwhile, lawmakers are debating a proposal from Gov. Tomblin. Hansen is concerned about some aspects of the bill.

Hansen’s concerns involve several aspects of the bill. One aspect of the proposed legislation would require public water systems to present in-depth reports to the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Department of Health and Human Resources Secretary, about contingency plans should spills occur from tanks, as well as identifying secondary water sources, and management plans. If passed, that information would have to be passed along 90 days after passage. Hansen says that’s a tight deadline.

“In order to write solid plans, that have community support, that integrate information from local elected officials and industry and citizens, it’s going to take community meetings, it’s going to take a long time,” he said.

“I think if these are rushed too fast, they may not be meaningful reports that are going to do any good.”

Hansen is also concerned the legislation is too limited, focusing too much attention on chemical storage tanks above ground, and not other places that might inadvertently contaminate water supplies.

State Sen. John Unger, a Democrat, is also proposing legislation on the issue.

Unger says his bill is more broad than the governor’s bill. His proposal would regulate all above-ground storage tanks.

State Senate Majority Leader: Governor's Bill Shields Chemical Industry

A West Virginia Senate leader thinks the governor’s proposal to prevent chemical spills caters to industry interests.
 

Senate Majority Leader John Unger says Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s bill doesn’t do enough to register and inspect above-ground storage tanks.
 
     Tomblin’s measure responds to Freedom Industries’ Jan. 9 spill, which contaminated the water supply for 300,000 people.
 
     Unger took issue with Tomblin’s bill on Tuesday because it regulates just above-ground tanks deemed too close to a water supply. It also would only regulate sites holding chemicals above a certain risk level.
 
     Unger is proposing regulation of all above-ground tanks.
 
     Unger says all of the state’s water needs to be protected. He says sites far from public water systems need to be regulated, since people in rural areas rely on wells using groundwater.

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