CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - West Virginia industrial plants would be able to discharge more pollution into the state’s waterways under a bill approved by the Legislature.
The Senate voted 20-13 on Tuesday to authorize the Department of Environmental Protection to calculate water pollution limits for cancer-causing and other chemicals using an average-flow figure called the “harmonic mean.” The figure would be used instead of the low-flow waterway volume now used to calculate dilution and determine allowable discharge amounts. The end result is that it would allow larger discharges from individual sites.
Most of the chamber’s majority Republicans voted for the bill. Most Democrats voted against it.
The changes have been sought by the West Virginia Manufacturers Association, which says they will help redevelopment of vacant industrial properties. Backers say overall water quality standards would remain the same.
The West Virginia Rivers Coalition opposed that change and another in the bill that would allow “mixing zones,” overlapping discharges from multiple sites. The House of Delegates passed the bill three weeks ago.
Sen. Mike Romano, a Democrat from Clarksville, said House lawmakers were told the new standards would make West Virginia comparable to surrounding states, but he said information presented at a subsequent hearing showed that was not the case.
Sen. Corey Palumbo, a Charleston Democrat, said amendments that would have kept West Virginia’s standards comparable to other states were rejected.
“I don’t think our path to economic development is saying that we allow more pollutants in our waters than other states do,” he said. “And if we do, at what cost is that?”
Sen. Greg Boso, a Summersville Republican, said the federal Environmental Protection Agency recommended the new measurement method, which he said replaces antiquated techniques while still protecting state waters. Boso said the change is supported by the West Virginia Farm Bureau and West Virginia Municipal Water Quality Association.
“This will cause no harm or degradation to the waters of this state. I am certain of it based on the science I learned,” said Sen. Charles Trump, a Morgan County Republican.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.