New Coal Slurry Bill is Watered Down With Sludge

Black water has plunged its way into West Virginia, and it has nothing to do with the private military contracting group.  How would you like it if you went to water your plants and black sludgy "water" shot out of your hose and on to your prized Azaleas?  I'm no green-thumb, but I doubt this would fortify any plant.

This situation is a reality in Whitesville, W.Va., where black water comes out of the spigot, gushing like sludge from a sewage pipe.  Who is the culprit of this murky water?  Many place the blame on coal-contaminated drinking water by way of coal slurries.

Statistically, cancer and other serious health problems have very high numbers in areas like Whitesville where contaminated water is present.  It has never been proven, conclusively, that the coal slurry injection sites are safe. This study was done over two years ago, and people are still being forced to settle with contaminated water and the accompanying health consequences.

A moratorium is currently in place that prevents new coal slurry injection sites from being created, however a moratorium is not enough and a permanent ban is needed.  Lawmakers in Charleston, W.Va have taken up the issue and recently made some headway.  The Alternative Coal Slurry Disposal Act was proposed to permanently ban the sites and create a tax incentive for companies that eliminate the use of coal slurries, but has since been watered down to language that allows the practice to continue while still preventing new permits until safety and health studies have been conducted.

This is more of the same, and the problem of contaminated drinking water still lingers. The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) is stagnant, and has hardly taken action on the issue. Heavy pressure from the coal industry hasn't helped with efforts to eliminate these sites either.

With the bill getting watered down, hope seems to be drifting away from saving the drinking water (and potentially lives) in West Virginia.  However, a ray of hope has pierced through the dark clouds of the West Virginia Legislature in recent days. Democrats John Unger, Jeff Kessler, and Ron Stollings recently went to a Boone County town close to Whitesville and were horrified.  Unger placed an effective target on the WVDEP, claiming that "environmental regulators are standing around like deer caught in headlights while people in Boone County are being poisoned." This renewed support from three influential senators could be crucial in the fight to permanently ban coal slurry injection sites from ever being created again.

With the pressure building up against the WVDEP, it is more important than ever to let them know where you stand on coal slurries.  Please sign the petition, demanding a permanent ban of new coal slurry injection sites.

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Photo Credit: Duncan Creamer via Flickr