From: Friends of the Cheat amanda@cheat.org Date: March 10, 2017 3:38:10 PM EST

Subject: Protecting our Water - Learn More About HB2506

The West Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee will soon consider HB2506. This bill will change the way stream flow is measured when setting limits for pollution discharge permits. The new method would make the assumption that river and streams are larger and can dilute pollution to concentrations that would not threaten human health or water quality.

Based on the knowledge available and our understanding of HB2506 as it exists now, Friends of the Cheat is opposed to this proposed rule change and would be opposed to any rule or legislative action that could increase pollution in the Cheat River and its tributaries.

HB2506 has the potential to compromise the improved water quality achieved by 24 years of hard work and millions of dollars of restoration and remediation projects. Further, the passage of such a bill could undermine the community’s ability to promote the Cheat River has a haven for recreation and related tourism. Learn more about HB2506 here, here, here, and here. And if you need a laugh after all that, check out West Virginia storyteller Bil Lepp’s take on HB2506. Legislators may consider HB2506 early next week. You can voice your opinion on HB2506 to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee in a few ways – direct calls and emails from constituents can be very powerful. If you don’t know who your senator is, you can find out using the senate district maps here. Or, if you have a cell phone, text your zip code to (520) 200-2223 and you will get a text back with all your representatives’ names and phone numbers. Call members of the Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Senator Charles Trump (R – Morgan, District 15) (304) 357-7980 Vice Chair Senator Ryan Weld (R – Brooke, District 1) (304) 357-7984 Senator Mike Azinger (R – Wood, District 3) (304) 357-7970 Senator Bob Beach (D – Monongalia, District 13) (304) 357-7919 *Senator Beach has consistently reported that he does not support HB2506 Senator Charles Clements (R – Wetzel, District 2) (304) 357-7827 Senator Sue Cline (R – Wyoming, District 9) (304) 357-7807 Senator Ryan Ferns (R – Ohio, District 1) (304) 357-7918 Senator Glenn Jeffries (D – Putnam, District 8) (304) 357-7866 Senator Robert Karnes (R – Upshur, District 11) (304) 357-7909 *District 11 encompasses the headwaters of the Cheat River watershed. Senator Mark Maynard (R – Wayne, District 6) (304) 357-7808 Senator Ronald Miller (D – Greenbrier, District 10) (304) 357-7959 Senator Richard Ojeda (D – Logan, District 7) (304) 357-7857 Senator Mike Romano (D – Harrison, District 12) (304) 357-7904 Senator Patricia Rucker (R – Jefferson, District 16) (304) 357-7957 Senator Randy Smith (R – Tucker, District 14) (304) 357-7995 *District 14 encompasses the entire lower Cheat River watershed, including all of Preston and Tucker Counties Senator Chandler Swope (R – Mercer, District 6) (304) 357-7843 Senator Mike Woelfel (D – Cabell, District 5) (304) 357-7956 Email members of the Senate Judiciary Committee Copy and paste this group of emails below charles.trump@wvsenate.gov; ryan.weld@wvsenate.gov; chandler.swope@wvsenate.gov; bob.beach@wvsenate.gov; glenn.jeffries@wvsenate.gov; ronald.miller@wvsenate.gov;richard.ojeda@wvsenate.gov; mike.romano@wvsenate.gov; mike.azinger@wvsenate.gov; charles.clements@wvsenate.gov; sue.cline@wvsenate.gov; mike.woelfel@wvsenate.gov; ryan.ferns@wvsenate.gov; robert.karnes@wvsenate.gov; Mark.Maynard@wvsenate.gov; patricia.rucker@wvsenate.gov; randy.smith@wvsenate.gov

Use the handy online tool provided by West Virginia Rivers Coalition to contact Senators in your district about HB2506.

Friends of the Cheat (FOC) is a grassroots group working on the ground with local, state, Federal, academic, and private partners—including 45 landowners—to monitor, analyze, and remediate the vast acid mine drainage pollution problems in the lower watershed. FOC and its River of Promise Task Force have implemented restoration efforts which collectively have restored the once-dead Cheat River; FOC has constructed 17 pollution treatment systems to date, which remove hundreds of tons of pollution each year from the Cheat and its tributaries. FOC is also collecting data and working with local partners to understand and clean up coliform pollution from inadequate sewage treatment. This progress could be slowed by relaxing pollution controls at permitted sites including mine water treatment operations and sewage treatment plants.

Rebirth has begun, but there is more work to be done – long live the Cheat River! Working to restore, preserve, and promote the outstanding natural qualities of the Cheat River watershed since 1994.

Learn more about the Cheat River’s revival here, here, and here.

Copyright © 2017 Friends of the Cheat, All rights reserved. You are a friend of the Cheat!

Our mailing address is: Friends of the Cheat 119 South Price St. Suite #206 Kingwood WV, WV 26537-1478

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