Ohio Valley Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

State Gets EPA Funding To Address ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Drinking Water

The Department of Environmental Protection will receive $1 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to address PFAS in drinking water sources.

West Virginia will receive federal funds to help eliminate “forever chemicals” from drinking water.

The Department of Environmental Protection will receive $1 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to address PFAS in drinking water sources.

The state agency will use the funds to engage with communities in the Northern and Eastern panhandles and develop PFAS Action Plans.

PFAS are a group of around 10,000 manmade chemicals that have been used to manufacture both industrial and consumer products.

The U.S. Geological Survey found them in 67 of the state’s 279 raw water systems, with clusters in the Eastern Panhandle and Ohio River Valley.

The EPA has proposed legally enforceable limits for PFAS in water systems nationwide.

Report: Predicted Ohio Valley Petrochemical Hub Never Materialized

Proposals to build two ethane cracker plants – one in Wood County, West Virginia, and another in Belmont County, Ohio – have fizzled.

A petrochemical manufacturing hub predicted six years ago in the mid-Ohio Valley didn’t materialize.

Proposals to build two ethane cracker plants – one in Wood County, West Virginia, and another in Belmont County, Ohio – have fizzled.

Cracker plants produce the building blocks of plastic products. In 2017, the chemical industry and the Trump administration predicted that the Ohio Valley, with its proximity to shale gas reserves, would become a hub for that process.

But according to a new report from the Ohio River Valley Institute, that hub never happened, nor did the 100,000 jobs it promised for the region.

Only one plant was built by Shell in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. It employs 400 to 600 people.

According to the report, competition from China and a build-out of petrochemical manufacturing on the Gulf Coast discouraged investment in the Ohio Valley hub.

Justice Issues State Of Preparedness Ahead Of Severe Weather

As of Monday afternoon, the entire state was under a tornado watch, with pockets of the state under a severe thunderstorm warning.

Gov. Jim Justice on Monday issued a state of preparedness for all 55 counties with forecasts of severe weather statewide.

As of Monday afternoon, the entire state was under a tornado watch, with pockets of the state under a severe thunderstorm warning.

Much of northern West Virginia, including the upper Ohio Valley, was under a flash flood warning.

A state of preparedness puts the state Emergency Management Division (WVEMD) on a higher level of readiness to respond to an emergency.

Justice and the WVEMD ask residents to monitor local forecasts, follow instructions from emergency management officials and have a way to receive weather alerts.

National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories can be found through the agency’s offices in Charleston, Pittsburgh, Baltimore-Washington and Blacksburg, Virginia.

Ohio Valley’s Severe Flood Risk Among The Highest, Report Shows

The Ohio River Basin could expect to see a flood every five to 10 years that once happened only once every century, according to the nonprofit First Street Foundation’s National Risk Assessment.

New data shows the Ohio Valley is one of the regions at greatest risk for severe flooding.

The Ohio River Basin could expect to see a flood every five to 10 years that once happened only once every century, according to the nonprofit First Street Foundation’s National Risk Assessment.

The report attributes the increased risk to warmer air that traps more moisture because of climate change.

A similar series of assessments by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration do not take climate change into account and may underestimate the risk for more frequent and severe floods.

According to First Street, flood risk has changed from what it was and will continue to change because of the effects of climate change.

It also shows that much of the mid-Atlantic, New England and Gulf Coasts face the highest level of risk.

Hiring Retired School Bus Drivers, Enhancing State Trail Network Recreation Passed Become Law

Noting a statewide shortage of school bus drivers, on day 60 of the 2023 Legislative Session, the House of Delegates passed House Bill 2346 to ease the pressure.

The bill allows retired bus operators to work as substitutes in areas of critical need and maintain their pensions and other retirement benefits, provided they continue to qualify as licensed school bus operators

However, anyone who retires and begins work as a substitute bus operator within the same fiscal year in which that person retired shall lose their retirement benefits attributed to the annuity reserve.

The retired bus operators hired as substitutes are considered day-to-day, temporary, part-time employees and not eligible for additional pension or other benefits.

The bill heads to the governor for his signature. All provisions of the bill will expire on June 30, 2028.

Trail Network

House Bill 3147 creates the Upper Ohio Valley Trail Network Recreation Authority.

The bill notes the opportunity to provide trail-oriented recreation facilities primarily on private property in the Potomac Highlands and north central West Virginia. Anticipated potential for the trail network includes increased tourism similar to whitewater rafting, snow skiing, and ATV trail riding.

The bill creates a contiguous trail system that connects to the Elk River Trail, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal TowPath and any other trails in adjacent neighboring states that can be feasibly connected.

The measure provides for a governing body. expenses and protection for private landowners.

This bill also goes to the governor for signature

Capito To Question Norfolk Southern CEO In Ohio Derailment Hearing

On March 9, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hear from witnesses about the East Palestine derailment and chemical release.

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-WV, will get to ask questions about last month’s Ohio train derailment in a hearing next week.

Capito is the senior Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

On March 9, the committee will hear from witnesses about the East Palestine derailment and chemical release. Among those scheduled to testify is Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw.

Capito said she’s not had a chance to look at a bipartisan rail safety bill sponsored by senators from Ohio and Pennsylvania.

“So I look forward to looking at it in deeper detail, certainly the hearings, and the chance to question the CEO of Norfolk Southern will be a big part of that, yes,” Capito said.

Among other things, the bill would require a minimum of two crew members on every train, defect sensors on every 10 miles of track on hazardous material routes and more robust tank cars.