Chemical Spill Bill Moves Through WV Leg, Minus Health Monitoring & Early-Warning Elements
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The full House of Delegates on Tuesday will start debating a proposal to safeguard storage facilities and public water systems against chemical spills.
The legislation comes in the wake of the Jan. 9 leak that contaminated 300,000 West Virginians' water for days. On Monday, an amended proposal passed the House Finance Committee, stripping out two items with uncertain price tags.
The bill no longer would require a long-term health monitoring program after the spill. It also wouldn't require an early warning monitoring system at West Virginia American Water, the company whose water supply was tainted.
Even with those provisions removed, lawmakers don't know how much the proposed changes could cost. The bill has changed significantly since it passed the Senate, where the Department of Environmental Protection thought it would incur another $1 million in added work and staffing needs.
The Jan. 9 spill at Freedom Industries spurred a water-use ban for up to 10 days in some neighborhoods. Though the ban has long been lifted, many residents still will only use bottled water. State officials say tanks like the ones at Freedom Industries fall into a regulatory gray area that needs more clarity in law.
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http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/W-Va-chemical-spill-bill-moves-to-House-floor-5286063.php
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