LEGISLATORS CHOPPING STREAMS FROM POLLUTION PROTECTION

(02/22/2008)

The long contested list protecting West Virginia streams from pollution is back in legislative action in the Senate Finance Committee. The original bill would protect 309 streams statewide against new sources of water pollution. The latest senate version would protect 108 streams, opening up sections surrounding 201 state streams for extraction. Industry lobbyists are seeking to have 201 streams exempted from clean water provisions. For the past seven years, legislators have failed to approve a list of streams to be protected under the federal Clean Water Act. "If the bill is left at 108, 201 streams by default can be polluted down to the minimum water quality standards," said Don Garvin, with the West Virginia Environmental Council. Garvin said "Water is owned by you, me and everybody. It's not owned by the landowners or corporations."

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