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What We Want from Charleston
Sludge Safety Project at the 2009 WV Legislature
We want our legislators to take action for health by taking action for clean water.
- The WV DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) must report to the legislature on the findings and progress of the “Sludge Study” Resolution, SCR15, initiated in 2007.
- The WV DHHR (Department of Health and Human Resources) must complete the study with independent scientists and do health assessments where people are sick and have bad water.
- Our legislators must support more funding to get clean drinking water to families in places like Prenter in Boone Co., Harts and Mud River in Lincoln Co., and Jones Branch in Nicholas Co.
Quick Background:
- In 2007, we won the study resolution, SCR 15, to find out what is in coal sludge and how it affects our health and our water.
- A key piece of the resolution, “to allow independent scientists on site to sample water and sludge,” was left out of the final draft.
- We met several times with the DEP where we learned only five sites in the state would be sampled for water contamination, and the DEP would not prioritize places where citizens are sick and have bad water.
- New information on health and water in southern West Virginia has surfaced since 2007, and we want the legislature to be aware of the facts. We need to know how sludge is affecting our health and our water if we are to adequately address the issue.
- A legislative hearing to include the recent studies on health, water, and living in the coalfields is a step toward action to improve the health and safety of families living near coal sludge.
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