Tag: EPA

Drinking Water Safe In Spite Of PFAS Tests, State Health Chief Says

State health office Mathew Christiansen noted that the data are preliminary and that the state is ahead of the curve on testing.

After testing showed “forever chemicals” in treated water in more than two dozen water systems, state officials sought to reassure the public.

Matthew Christiansen, the chief health officer, said Wednesday that the state Bureau of Public Health had not issued any advisories related to the PFAS detected in water systems.

“The water you get from your faucet has been and remains one of the safest water sources out there,” he said.

Testing found PFAS in 27 water systems. Of those, 19 had levels above proposed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency limits for PFAS in drinking water.

The Department of Health and Human Resources and the Department of Environmental protection released the data last week.

Christiansen noted that the data are preliminary and that the state is ahead of the curve on testing.

Exposure to PFAS for prolonged periods may have adverse health effects, the EPA has determined.

PFAS Chemicals Found In 19 Drinking Water Sources

Twenty seven public water systems in the state have detectable levels of select perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) compounds, also known as “forever chemicals,” in their finished drinking water, per final sampling results released by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). 

That is water that is sent to homes. 

Of those, 19 water systems have levels that are above at least one of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed regulatory standards according to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. 

Under the direction of DHHR, USGS sampled the finished drinking water of 37 systems previously identified as having certain PFAS compounds in their raw-water (pre-treated water) source, to determine which systems need additional or upgraded treatment.

Courtesy West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resouces and the Department of Environmental Protection.

A chart depicting West Virginia’s finished water testing results for the 19 systems, Public Water System Drinking Water PFAS Study, may be viewed here.

DHHR’s Bureau for Public Health and DEP are working with these 27 systems through a working group formed in March 2023 to evaluate treatment processes and best approaches to removing these compounds from finished water, as well as identify funding options to minimize the burden on customers. 

There is currently no regulatory requirement for states or public water systems to conduct sampling. EPA has proposed to regulate certain PFAS compounds, PFOA and PFOS, at a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of four parts per trillion, require public water systems to monitor for certain PFAS compounds, and notify consumers and reduce PFAS levels if they exceed the regulatory standards. EPA expects to finalize this rule by the end of 2023.

West Virginia has been testing finished water to be proactive. The PFAS Protection Act, or House Bill 3189, requires the DEP to identify and address PFAS sources, develop action plans and improve reporting requirements. Senate Concurrent Resolution 46, which passed during the 2020 legislative session, requested DHHR and DEP propose and initiate a public source water supply study plan.

“While a determination of risk for consumers cannot be made based on the preliminary results of this study, this data helps us plan for when final testing is complete and the EPA rules are finalized,” said Dr. Matthew Christiansen, state health officer and commissioner of DHHR’s Bureau for Public Health.

West Virginia will receive $18.9 million in federal funding over two years to address emerging contaminants like PFAS in drinking water. That funding can be used for a wide-range of activities, including research and testing, treatment, source water activities, restructuring, consolidating, or creating water systems, and technical assistance. 

Customers are encouraged to visit https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-explained for information on reducing exposure to PFAS.

“The quick action to form a working group allowed West Virginia water systems and state partners an opportunity to share knowledge and resources at an early stage,” said Dr. Christiansen. “DHHR and DEP will coordinate with impacted communities to administer the federal funding.”

Additional samples of finished drinking water may be collected from sampling points located at the entry point to the distribution system and analyzed for PFAS compounds of concern.

“This information is another vital step forward in our efforts to address this issue,” said DEP Secretary Harold Ward. “The DEP, DHHR, and our local water systems can make more informed decisions and take appropriate next steps to ensure that safe, clean drinking water is accessible to all communities across West Virginia.”

PFAS are chemicals used in thousands of applications throughout the industrial, food, and textile industries and are an ingredient in some firefighting foams, food packaging, cleaning products, and various other household items. They are classified as possible carcinogens and may create other adverse health effects. Exposure to PFAS over a long period of time may lead to negative health effects.

Capito, Manchin, Morrisey Push Back On EPA Power Plant Rules

If they take effect, the rules would require coal-burning power plants to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions by 90 percent, or shut down.

West Virginia’s U.S. senators and state attorney general pushed back against newly announced federal rules for power plant emissions.

Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito said Thursday that she’d introduce a resolution of disapproval for new rules from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

If they take effect, the rules would require coal-burning power plants to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions by 90 percent, or shut down.

Capito said carbon capture technology is not yet in widespread use.

“Right now, nobody’s using that technology at a power plant,” she said. “And so, you know, we have a long way to go before we’re able to do that.”

Democrat Joe Manchin said Wednesday that he’d block every EPA nominee over the rules.

Republican Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said he’d take the matter to court.

The EPA will accept public comment on the proposed rules for 60 days.

EPA Rules Mean Coal Plants Will Have To Capture Carbon Or Shut Down

The EPA will require existing coal-burning power plants to install carbon capture technology if they are scheduled to operate beyond 2040.

The chief of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said new power plant emission rules will eliminate some coal use.

The EPA will require existing coal-burning power plants to install carbon capture technology if they are scheduled to operate beyond 2040.

Carbon capture is not yet in widespread use in the electric power sector. Yet, if implemented, the rules would require the largest, most frequently run coal plants to capture 90 percent of their CO2 emissions starting in 2030.

Speaking to a group of reporters before the announcement of the rules, Administrator Michael Regan said the rules will allow power companies to decide whether they want to invest in carbon capture at individual plants.

“What we know, and what our analysis projects, is that we will see some coal retirements,” he said.

Last year’s Inflation Reduction Act includes incentives to install carbon capture at power plants.

Power companies will also be allowed to use natural gas or hydrogen to meet lower emissions targets at coal plants. Plants could be converted to burn 40 percent natural gas if they shut down before 2040.

Certain plants that see less use may not have to make any changes as long as they shut down by 2032 or 2035.

The rules also require natural gas plants to have some system in place to lower emissions. They could use either carbon capture or switch to low-carbon hydrogen.

The U.S. power sector was already trending away from coal. While coal produced nearly half the nation’s power 20 years ago, it has fallen to less than 20 percent in the first quarter of this year.

Natural gas has mostly taken coal’s place, but renewables account for an increasing share.

The proposed rules are almost certain to be challenged in court.

Republican U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said Thursday that she’d introduce a resolution opposing them.

“It’s reprehensible that this administration would clamp down even further on domestic energy production while advancing policies meant to increase demand for electricity,” Capito said in a statement.

On Wednesday, her West Virginia counterpart, Democrat Joe Manchin, said he’d block every EPA nominee.

“We will do everything we can to make sure they do not jeopardize the grid system, the reliability of the power this country needs,” Manchin said.

In the briefing with reporters on Wednesday, Regan said the rules would not affect grid reliability or the affordability of electricity.

Another challenge could come from Republican state attorneys general, including Patrick Morrisey of West Virginia.

Last year, Morrisey brought a case to the U.S. Supreme Court challenging the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan, an earlier attempt to rein in carbon emissions.

“The U.S. Supreme Court has placed significant limits on what the EPA can do,” Morrisey said in a statement. “We plan on ensuring that those limits are upheld, and we expect that we would once again prevail in court against this out-of-control agency.”

The court ruled that the EPA had limited authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate power plant emissions. The new rules were designed to withstand legal challenges, Regan said.

Manchin Says He’ll Block EPA Nominees Over Power Plant Rules

The new rules, which the EPA will announce on Thursday, are expected to be tough on coal-burning power plants, especially. They will also apply to new natural gas power plants.

Ahead of the rollout of new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency limits of carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin says he will block every EPA nominee.

The new rules, which the EPA will announce on Thursday, are expected to be tough on coal-burning power plants, especially. They’re also expected to apply to new natural gas power plants.

Manchin says he opposes any effort to remove coal from the grid over reliability concerns. 

“We will do everything we can to make sure they do not jeopardize the grid system, the reliability of the power this country needs,” he said Wednesday.

The U.S. power sector was already trending away from coal. While it produced nearly half the nation’s power 20 years ago, it has fallen to less than 20 percent in the first quarter of the year.

Natural gas has mostly taken coal’s place, but renewables account for an increasing share.

Here’s Why 2 Units At John Amos Plant Were Down In December Freeze

Ultimately, no rolling blackouts occurred in West Virginia or the 12 other states in the PJM regional power grid. But Appalachian Power did ask its customers to conserve electricity.

We now know why part of the John Amos power plant was down during December’s Winter Storm Elliott that threatened rolling blackouts due to sub-zero temperatures.

During the Christmas Weekend deep freeze, two of the three units at the Amos power plant were not available to produce electricity.

According to written testimony filed Friday to the West Virginia Public Service Commission by Appalachian Power, Unit 1 was down for planned upgrades to its wastewater treatment and coal ash disposal systems. Those upgrades are required to keep Amos operating beyond 2028 in compliance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules.

Only Unit 2 was operating during that time.

Unit 3, the plant’s biggest, was shut down on Dec. 20 because of a tube leak that required immediate repair. The unit was not available again until Dec. 27, when the crisis was over.

Ultimately, no rolling blackouts occurred in West Virginia or the 12 other states in the PJM regional power grid. But Appalachian Power did ask its customers to conserve electricity.

Appalachian Power is an underwriter of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

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