Tag: Health & Science

Governor to Appeal FEMA Denial

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin announced Wednesday that he’s appealing a decision by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to deny West Virginia’s request for emergency protective measures through the emergency declaration issued in response to the Kanawha Valley water crisis.

FEMA Deputy Associate Director Elizabeth Zimmerman told Tomblin in a letter Monday that based on the agency’s review, it was determined that the water crisis did not rise to the severity and magnitude to warrant grant assistance under the emergency declaration.

In a statement the Governor said he was disappointed and shared the anger and frustration of West Virginians who have endured the crisis. He went on to say he was committed to providing the details necessary to demonstrate the assistance needed by the public safety agencies that have provided support to citizens since the chemical spill into the Elk River January 9.

Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin and Congressman Nick Rahall are also quoted in the statement, promising they too will work toward a successful appeal.

The state has 30 days to file.

In-Home Testing After Elk River Chemical Spill Launches

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin announced Tuesday the West Virginia Testing Assessment Project for residents in the nine counties affected by the Jan. 9 chemical spill into Elk River.

The project, which will make use of $650,000 from the state budget according to Tomblin, will be conducted by independent scientific experts under the direction of Dr.  Andrew Whelton, assistant professor of environmental engineering at the University of South Alabama, and Corona Environmental Consulting.

Gov. Tomblin said West Virginia American Water president Jeff McIntyre offered financial support for the WV TAP project but no money from the company has been accepted.

Both Tomblin and Whelton referred to the project as “unprecedented.”

Whelton said the project has three main objectives:

1. To convene an international panel of experts to examine the West Virginia safety factor of 10 ppb MCHM drinking water screening level.

2. Determine the drinking water odor threshold for MCHM.

"This action is important because it is possible that people that can detect MCHM odors at concentrations less than the sensitivity of labratory instruments," said Whelton.

3. Conduct a focused drinking water residential sampling study. 

  • Whelton said this will begin with a sampling of 10 homes across the nine counties affected (one per county, except for two in Kanawha Co.).
  • These 10 homes were selected with help from non-profits in the area, he said.
  • Testing will begin Wednesday and will take three weeks to complete.
  • Results will be released directly to homeowners as part of this study but, there will be an effort to provide this information to the public.
  • Whelton says those involved will not be reporting to the Department of Health & Human Resources or other government agency to ensure the independent nature of the project.

Whelton also noted plans for a larger scaled testing project to include a sample “much greater than 100 homes” as a continuation of the study. He also suggested the need for animal toxicity studies on MCHM as well as medical monitoring for those affected by the incident.

Fifteen Indicted in W.Va. on Painkiller Charges

Federal prosecutors say 15 people have been charged with distributing tens of thousands of prescription painkillers in the Ohio Valley area of West Virginia.
 
     U.S. Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld II announced the unsealing of an 83-count indictment on Monday. It alleges the powerful painkiller oxycodone and other prescription drugs were funneled into West Virginia from northern Ohio and Detroit.
 
     The government identified the lead defendant as Brian Schultz, a 37-year-old Triadelphia man. He was charged with conspiracy counts involving distribution of controlled substances and interstate travel in aid of racketeering, among other charges.
 
     The U.S. attorney’s office says it is seeking the forfeiture of possessions owned by Schultz and a money judgment against him and others totaling $450,000.
 
     No one answered at a phone listing for Schultz in Triadelphia.
 

Freedom Industries Tanks Deemed 'Out of Compliance' Three Months Before Leak

Tanks at the facility that spilled chemicals into 300,000 West Virginians’ water supply were deemed out of federal compliance three months before the leak.
 
     U.S. Chemical Safety Board Chairman Rafael Moure-Eraso told a congressional panel Monday that Freedom Industries ordered its own review of its tanks last October.

 
     Environmental consultants found storage units at the Charleston location were “not necessarily” in full compliance with Environmental Protection Agency and industry standards.
 
     Moure-Eraso also said the tank that spilled was rested on porous gravel and soil. A last resort containment wall was not lined and provided little protection.
 
     The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a hearing on the spill Monday in Charleston.
 

State, Federal Reps. Respond to Wyoming Co. Water Woes

Congressman Nick Joe Rahall is looking into the water situation in Alpoca/Bud in Wyoming County.

The long-term fix, known as the Covel project, will bring a new transmission main to serve the Bud/Alpoca area. The Eastern Wyoming Public Service District (PSD), in partnership with the Wyoming County Commission, has taken steps to repair the existing water system.

The Covel project has nearly a $5.7 million price tag, all of which – except for $125,000 – is Abandoned Mine Land (AML) funding.

The money comes from a tax coal companies pay meant to help  resolve public safety issues such as hazardous highwalls, or mining-impacted water resulting from mining before 1977.  Such practices were established by the Surface Mining and Control Act and the creation of the Office of AML&R in 1981.

Rahall visited Herndon Consolidated  School in Bud and the Pentecostal Church of God in Alpoca Friday to meet with residents and share the long term plans.

Short Term Solutions

State lawmakers are weighing in as well. Senator Mike Green is hoping to reassure folks on the Alpoca Water Works system that they are not being ignored by state government.

Green’s office sent out a release to share the work being done a state level to try and put an end to ‘bad water‘.

Last week, Senator Daniel Hall and I had a discussion with Adjutant General James Hoyer of the West Virginia National Guard regarding the water situation in the Bud/Alpoca area of Wyoming County.  Last Friday, the General dispatched a water expert to the area to assess the situation and determine what help could be made available. While we await those results, I want to assure the people of Wyoming County that this issue isn't being ignored on the state level.     This week I spoke with Chairman Mike Albert of the West Virginia Public Service Commission. During that conversation, Chairman Albert said that the PSC is close to issuing an order related to water service that would not only help the residents of the Bud/Alpoca areas but also Covel, Herndon, and Herndon Consolidated School.   After the water problem is resolved at the source, the next step for the National Guard will be developing a process for flushing the lines because of the system's lack of hydrants. I want to stress to all of the citizens in Wyoming Counties – especially those affected by the present water issues – that you are not being ignored by your Government. "While the Charleston Water Crisis seems to be receiving the attention statewide, I will not allow your issue to be ignored. It is my hope that this issue, which has been going on for far too long, can be resolved sooner rather than later."  

Customers in Bud and Alpoca, including Herndon Consolidated, have been on a boil water advisory for more than five months.

As we reported earlier this week, National Guard representatives met with Wyoming County Emergency Director Dean Meadows.

Meadows told West Virginia Public Broadcasting that, unfortunately, the residents are not experiencing an emergency.

"We don’t want to sound unsympathetic to the people of Bud," Meadows said. "We’re very sympathetic and we want them to know that we are doing all we can and I’m very appreciative of the attention that they are getting but to put them in an emergency situation where the state starts putting in water, who is going to bear that expense and where does it end when other communities are involved."

The Logan County PSD has been working to restor water quality to the system by adding chemicals to the water, installing flush valves, etc.

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources says Alpoca Water Works has not filed a consumer confidence report in at least three years. Every community public water supply system that serves at least 25 residences year round or has 15 service connections must prepare and distribute a CCR once each year.

 

Audio: Congressional Hearing on Elk River Chemical Spill

CongressHeaingFebruary102014Part2.mp3
The question and answer portion of Monday, Feb. 10th's U.S. House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee field hearing on the Elk River Chemical Spill.

The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a hearing Monday morning in Charleston to learn more about the Jan. 9 chemical spill into the Elk River that left 300,000 people banned from using tap water for up to 10 days.

The witness list included the president of West Virginia American Water, state health, homeland security and environmental officials, the chairman of the U.S. Chemical Safety Board and county emergency and homeland security officials.

Freedom Industries President Gary Southern was invited but did not attend.

Two W.Va. members sit on the committee —Nick Rahall, the committee’s top Democrat, and Republican Shelley Moore Capito.

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