HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 11
(By Delegates Long, Amores, Brown, Morgan,
Pino, Tabb, Hamilton and Sobonya)
Requesting that the Joint Committee on Government and Finance
authorize the study of the effects of underground injection of
coal slurry on human health and the environment.
Whereas, the underground injection of coal slurry is an
accepted method of coal slurry disposal for which the Department of
Environmental Protection issues permits; and
Whereas, the most recent information on the effects of
underground injection of coal slurry available to the Legislature
indicates the potential for harmful effects; and
Whereas, the effects of the underground injection of coal
slurry on the water resources of West Virginia are largely unknown;
and
Whereas, the effects of the underground injection of coal
slurry may present serious public health questions; and
Whereas, the effects of the underground injection of coal
slurry may present serious environmental questions; therefore be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to study the effects of underground injection of coal
slurry on the water resources of West Virginia; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Department of Environmental
Protection in conjunction with the Bureau for Public Health conduct
or contract to have conducted a comprehensive study of the effects
of underground injection of coal slurry including the following:
(1)an analysis of the chemical composition of coal slurry,
including an inventory of organic and inorganic compounds;
(2)a hydrogeological study of the migration of coal slurry
or its constituent contaminants from injection wells into the
ground waters or surface waters of West Virginia;
(3)a toxicological analysis of the effects of the coal
slurry and its constituents on human health;
(4)an epidemiological study of the effects of coal slurry
and its constituents on public health in communities where it is
determined that coal slurry or its constituents have migrated into
ground waters currently or historically used for domestic purposes;
(5)an environmental assessment of the effects on surface
water and aquatic ecosystems of the migration of coal slurry or its
constituents into surface waters; and
(6)any other considerations that the Department of
Environmental Protection and the Bureau for Public Health deem to be important; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Department of Environmental
Protection and the Bureau for Public Health ensure through multiple
sampling dates and locations that the resulting data identify
possible regional variation in the contents of coal slurry; and
collect samples of sufficient quantity to provide testable
quantities; and be it
Further Resolved, That the Department of Environmental
Protection and the Bureau for Public Health report to the Joint
Committee on Government and Finance their findings, conclusions and
recommendations on or before the thirty-first day of December two
thousand seven; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Department of Environmental
Protection and the Bureau for Public Health prepare and submit a
request to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance setting
forth the anticipated time necessary to conduct each phase of the
study and, if any funds in addition to the current amounts
appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection and
Bureau for Public Health may be necessary to carry out the study
required herein, a specific proposal for additional funds; and, be
it
Further Resolved, That the Legislative expenses necessary to
conduct this study, to receive reports and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint
Committee on Government and Finance.
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