W. Kanawha River ON FUCKING FIRE, WV Legislators Eager For Massive Rollback Of Water Standards
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DEP Secretary Randy Huffman proposed to extend so-called “Category A” drinking water pollution limits to a local stretch of the Kanawha, saying it could help provide a backup water supply for West Virginia American Water’s regional plant on the Elk. Huffman’s proposal is part of a DEP water quality standards bill that has come under criticism in the House and Senate from industry groups, who oppose adding drinking water protections to the Kanawha and are hoping to use the bill as a vehicle to eliminate the DEP’s statewide application of Category A.
Jason Bostic, a vice president for the West Virginia Coal Association, urged lawmakers at Monday’s hearing to “fix this defect in West Virginia’s water quality standards,” which he called “nothing more than a bureaucratic fantasy.” Under the Clean Water Act, waterways are designated for different uses, such as drinking, fishing and contact recreation, such as swimming. Different water quality limits are set based on the designated uses of a particular stream. The designated use for drinking is known as “Category A.” Those water quality standards are, in turn, used to establish pollution discharge limits the state sets for each business.
For years, state regulators have applied the Category A water pollution standards to almost all streams across the state, except for a few locations with exemptions. One of those is a 72-mile stretch of the Kanawha River from just upstream of Belle through Charleston and on to the Ohio River. Dave Yaussy, a lawyer for the West Virginia Manufacturers Association, said that his group recognizes the importance of protecting public drinking water intakes.
But, Yaussy said, the industry group sees no reason to put Category A limits on businesses on the stretch of the Kanawha in question until the water company actually decides to put a new public drinking water intake there. Also, Yaussy said, the group continues to believe there is no reason to apply Category A limits to streams around the state that don’t currently have drinking water intakes located on them. “We cannot support the heavy-handed approach of the DEP,” Yaussy said. “The DEP’s proposal costs jobs and money.”
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http://www.wvgazette.com/article/20150216/GZ01/150219456/1101
= new reply since forum marked as read
If they would have to drink the shit the rest of us have to, MAYBE the idjits would see the sense of protecting the environment. 
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I have very fond memories of West Virginia -- namely, the southern part of the state around Welch and Pineville. In the 70s, I lived with an aunt whose husband ran a local business along that highway, called Hicks Mower Service. They did small engine sales and repair, in case the name of the place didn't ruin the suspense. 
After my uncle Siebert died, my aunt Mary stayed on the property at least until 1978, when relations between youngest (my mom) and oldest sisters ended up going sour. While we lived in her big house, it was pretty lonely, but the size of the cleared land along the highway gave me a nearly infinite amount of hiking trail to check out. There were so many types of birds -- and plants, and rocks, and things -- to identify and observe, that I was my own best company for the 18 months or so we lived there. The Pineville elementary school was a really nice place, too. I was looking forward to moving over to the high school, which began its classes at just 5th grade, but Mommy Dearest and I ended up moving to Roanoke, VA just before 4th grade ended.
All my rambling about that patch of land and my time near Welch is just to say that even though it may be slight, I feel a connection to these people and their suffering -- at least, those who had the smarts to vote for candidates who gave a damn about the environment there. I fear it's too late for the many who are just digging their own damn graves.
This may turn out to be one huge windfall for the cancer "treatment" industry. 
Naughty Systematic Chaos! Naughty!!!!
But come to think of it, the ocean really is a desert with its life underground and the perfect disguise above . . .
