WV DEP Knew About Illegal Dunkard Pollution
The Daily Athenaeum
1 October 2009
The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection has known
about illegal levels of pollution in Dunkard Creek from Consol Energy
mine sites for years.
In fact, they have encouraged it.
Beginning in 2004, the DEP gave Consol Energy time ex-tensions to
comply with pollution laws - they now have until 2013.
In 2007 and 2008, the DEP overstepped its authority by allowing Consol
to pollute Dunkard Creek to any concentration they pleased. Such a move
is illegal without approval of the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, and now, there are over 30 miles of total kill in Dunkard Creek.
The DEP has ignored toxic pollution levels from under-ground mines,
mountaintop removal and natural gas drilling when enforcing laws and
granting permits, and both the DEP and West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin
have touted their lax enforcement policies.
The secretary of the DEP has gone as far as testifying before the U.S.
Senate that mountain-top removal is good.
With the headwaters of East Coast and Midwest rivers, the sources of
drinking water for millions, water is West Virginia's most valuable
natural resource.
When the agency assigned to protect this resource spends taxpayers'
money to promote its destruction and taxpayers' money to clean up
pollution in-stead of holding polluters liable, that agency should have
its duties taken over by competent authorities.
Joe Gorman, senior
Sierra Student Coalition