EPA TO REGULATE PERCHLORATE AND 16 OTHER TOXIC CHEMICALS TO PROTECT DRINKING WATER EPA announced that based on new scientific evidence, the agency will regulate perchlorate to reduce its prevalence in the nation’s water and to protect human health. In a separate action, the agency is also seeking to establish a new drinking water strategy to address as a group up to 16 toxic chemicals (volatile organic compounds) to protect public health and well being.
For more information, go to _http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/unregulated/perchlorate.cfm_ (http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/unregulated/perchlorate.cfm) Visit the drinking water strategy at _http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/dwstrategy/index.cfm_ (http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/dwstrategy/index.cfm)
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NOTE: The Sixth Meeting of the WV/PA Monongahela Area Watersheds Compact is set for the Morgantown Airport Annex at 1 pm this Wednesday, February 16th. A two hour agenda is planned.
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WV/PA MONONGAHELA AREA WATERSHEDS COMPACT
POSITION STATEMENTS ADOPTED JANUARY 5, 2011
1. LEGISLATION IS NEEDED. As participants of the WV/PA Monongahela Area Watersheds Compact, we recognize the urgent need for State-wide legislation to limit the negative impacts of Marcellus Shale natural gas development in West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
2. WATERSHED CRISIS EXISTS. The Monongahela River watershed and other watersheds in West Virginia and Pennsylvania are in a long-term crisis condition as a result of increasing levels of total dissolved solids and other effluents. Some of these streams have already been recognized as “impaired” and in need of comprehensive protection plans. The WV/PA Monongahela Area Watersheds Compact herewith requests that all the citizens of these States participate with us in contacting our Governor(s), our Legislators, and the various agencies of government to enact needed legislation, establish needed regulations and enforce the laws to conserve and protect our drinking water, our agricultural water, our industrial water, our aquatic life, as well as our recreational and commercial waterways.
3. THREAT DUE TO MARCELLUS BOOM. The current “boom” in natural gas development in West Virginia and Pennsylvania is a tremendous economic benefit to our States. This “boom” can and should provide the financial resources to maintain and protect the public roads, the public and private lands, the waterways and the atmosphere throughout the States. The public health is at risk in some areas as are the drilling team workers and the supporting work force personnel. We call upon state and federal governmental bodies to address these problems. In addition to legislation and regulations, an adequate number of inspectors and enforcement staff must be assigned to these problems as soon as it is possible to do so.
4. HIRE LOCAL WORKERS. The drilling, transportation and processing of Marcellus Shale gas in West Virginia and Pennsylvania will require the investment of billions of dollars and result in billions of dollars worth of gas being produced while generating thousands of jobs in both States. In order to ensure that the process is accomplished in an environmentally sound and safe manner that benefits the people and the economies of both WV and PA, the WV/PA Monongahela Area Watersheds Compact herewith endorses and promotes the hiring of fully-trained local workers with competitive wages and full benefits for work in Marcellus related projects. The Compact further supports apprenticeship and training programs for workers and contractors and for programs to ensure the health and safety of the workers involved.
NOTE: Five public meetings have been organized and conducted in Morgantown by the representatives of some 47 watershed and conservation groups in cooperation with the Upper Monongahela River Association. Contacts: Barry G. Pallay, Co-Chair (_bpallay@comcast.net_ (mailto:bpallay@comcast.net) ) or Duane G. Nichols, Co-Chair (_duane330@aol.com_ (mailto:duane330@aol.com) ), 330 Dream Catcher Circle, Morgantown, WV 26508. Telephone: 304-216-5535.
See also: _www.uppermon.org_ (http://www.uppermon.org/) , _www.wcag-wv.org_ (http://www.wcag-wv.org/) , _www.frackcheckwv.net_ (http://www.frackcheckwv.net/) , _www.wvsoro.org_ (http://www.wvsoro.org)
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Have you contacted your legislators, your Governor, your Senate and House Members,
the WV-DEP, the US-EPA, the Office of the President? We had a disaster on 38 miles of
Dunkard Creek, we have a watershed wide crisis with TDS in the Monongahela River watershed,
we have mini-crisis situations at each drill pad and local stream where Marcellus well fracking
is taking place; and, these Marcellus activities are projected to increase greatly in the years ahead.
Duane Nichols, 330 Dream Catcher Circle, Morgantown, WV 26508.
clear@lists.cheatlakeclear.org
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Duane330＠aol.com