SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 27

(By Senators Unger, Kessler (Mr. President), Stollings, Plymale, Laird, McCabe, Prezioso, Yost, Wells, Miller, Cookman, Palumbo and Jenkins)

Urging the President of the United States and Congress to protect the nation’s water; to establish provisions that will prevent chemical spills from ever happening here or anywhere else again; to direct FEMA to continue to provide water supplies in affected areas in West Virginia; to direct the CDC, ATSDR and EPA to assemble a team to fully analyze the released chemicals and to determine the effects to human health and the environment from exposure to the chemicals from the date of the spill; and to direct the NIH to work with local health officials to diagnose and identify the present and future impacts on health due to exposure to these chemicals.

    Whereas, An estimated ten thousand gallons of crude 4-methylcyclohexane methanol, known as MCMH, a chemical used to remove impurities from coal, and a mixture of polyglycol ethers, known as PPH, spilled into the Elk River in Kanawha County from a one-inch hole in a tank belonging to Freedom Industries; and

    Whereas, The spill took place a mile and a half upstream from a major intake for West Virginia American Water, a private company that provides municipal water in parts of nine counties, including the city of Charleston, the State Capital; and

    Whereas, Over three hundred thousand water customers in Boone, Cabell, Clay, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Putnam and Roane counties were negatively affected by a ban on water use from January 9 through January 17, 2014; and

    Whereas, Individuals, families, employees, businesses and commerce were negatively affected in these counties, which subsequently caused a disruption to the economy of the entire state; and

    Whereas, The short-term and long-term effects to health from exposure to these chemicals have still not been determined, and accurate data related to the makeup of the chemicals remains unavailable for decisionmaking; and

    Whereas, Many West Virginians, even those in areas not affected by the spill, are unsure of the safety of their water; and

    Whereas, Many West Virginians continue to be afraid to use the water and are incurring additional expenses, such as purchasing bottled water for their homes and businesses; and

    Whereas, Schools are also burdened by these additional expenses, and the instructional day is disrupted by the change in routine and by the fears of the students; and

    Whereas, A release of harmful substances can happen in any community around the nation; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Legislature urges the President of the United States and Congress to protect the nation’s water; to establish provisions that will prevent chemical spills from ever happening here or anywhere else again; to direct FEMA to continue to provide water supplies in affected areas in West Virginia; to direct the CDC, ATSDR and EPA to assemble a team to fully analyze the released chemicals and to determine the effects to human health and the environment from exposure to the chemicals from the date of the spill; and to direct the NIH to work with local health officials to diagnose and identify the present and future impacts on health due to exposure to these chemicals; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the President of the United States, members of the West Virginia congressional delegation, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate and the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.