Inspectors Report Small Spill at Freedom Industries

UPDATE 6/13/14 @ 9:25 p.m.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Freedom Industries on Friday failed for a second straight day to prevent a stormwater collection trench overflow at the MCHM spill site along the Elk River, forcing the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) again to intervene, according to a news release from that agency.

“To have this happen twice in two days is outrageous and unacceptable," said DEP Secretary Randy Huffman in the release. "Freedom and its environmental consultant should have a system in place to handle heavy rainfall. If a better system is not implemented immediately, the DEP will take action to bring in a more responsible contractor to handle it."

Friday's overflow coincided with a heavy downpour of rain at around 5 p.m. The discharge lasted for approximately 50 minutes before being brought under control through increased pumping.

West Virginia American Water crews tested water samples twice Friday evening, company spokeswoman Laura Jordan said. As of 9 p.m. Friday, both of those tests had come back with non-detect levels of the chemical MCHM.

Jordan said the company will conduct more tests overnight and hopes to release those results early Saturday morning.

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