WV Spill Revealed Striking Lack of Water Supply Regulations: Lawmakers

"WASHINGTON — Members of Congress and West Virginia officials say patchwork federal regulations are inadequate to protect the public from spills such as the one last month that contaminated drinking water for 300,000 people in the Charleston area."



"Democrats and Republicans on a Senate Environment and Public Works subcommittee agreed at a hearing Tuesday that the federal government needs to do more to protect the water supply from toxic chemicals.

Committee leaders are pushing a bill from West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin that would require states to inspect chemical facilities that could threaten a public water system every three years."

Ben Nuckols reports for the Associated Press February 4, 2014.

SEE ALSO:

"Chemical Spill Hearings Focus on Possible Legislation" (Wall St. Journal)

"West Virginia Wants Action on Chemical Spill" (Reuters)

"West Virginia Spill Points to Lack of Data on Threats to Water Supply" (Wall St. Journal)

"Federal Grand Jury Investigates West Virginia Chemical Spill" (CNN)

"Jay Rockefeller Bemoans ‘Appalachian Myth,’ Lax Regulations at Spill Hearing" (Politico)

"West Virginia Spill Revealed Striking Lack Of Water Supply Regulations, Lawmakers Say" (AP)

"Tomblin Meeting on Chemical Tank Bill Excluded Environmentalists" (Charleston Gazette)

"U.S. Senate hosts hearing on Charleston, WV chemical spill" (WOWK TV)

"EPA/CDC Team Coming To 'provide Update'" (Charleston Gazette)

"DEP Never Saw Freedom's Pollution Control Plans" (Charleston Gazette)

Source: AP, 02/05/2014