Just got this statement from WVDEP about the big fish kill on Dunkard Creek in Monongalia County, W.Va.:
The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection continues to work with the WV Division of Natural Resources, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Environmental Protection Agency in the investigation of the Dunkard Creek fish kill.
Additional water samples for golden algae taken on September 24 have reconfirmed the presence of golden algae in amounts known to have caused fish kills in other states and countries.
The WVDEP and other investigators have been assembling available scientific information on golden algae and the toxins it produces. As reported in available scientific literature, both the golden algae and the toxins it produces are influenced by environmental factors including the water’s pH, temperature, salinity and nutrients.
“We have learned volumes about these algae in a relatively short period of time” said Scott Mandirola, Director of DEP’s Division of Water and Waste Management. “My staff has been in contact with researchers in Texas, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Tennessee and Oklahoma. We are grateful for these people taking their time to help us understand and test for this algae.”
DEP has also been sharing information with officials from Consolidated Coal Company. A meeting between Cabinet Secretary Randy Huffman and Consol officials took place on Monday September 28th. Consol scientists have also confirmed the presence of the golden algae, prymnesium parvum in Dunkard Creek. “Consol understands the significance of this event and is keenly aware of the possible impact of their discharges in this watershed,” Huffman said.
The DEP has also been informed that Consol has agreed to stop injecting coalbed methane gas wastewater into a shaft at its Blacksville No. 1 mine. The ceasing of this discharge will help determine what impact that operation may have had on elevated discharges from its Blacksville No. 2 outlet.
Samples to evaluate the health of the benthic macroinvertebrate communities (stream insects including, hellgrammites, mayflies, caddisflies, etc) were taken recently at four locations in the Dunkard Creek watershed. Generally information from these samples reveals similar scores to data taken prior to the fish kill events. The golden algae are not known to affect benthic macroinvertebrate populations. A sample taken below Consol’s Blacksville No. 2 discharge does indicate an impaired benthic macroinvertebrate community.
Some test results are still pending including analysis of fish liver, gills and kidney for the toxins expected to be produced by the algae. Also, additional water samples are being prepared for shipment to the University of Oklahoma. There they will attempt to grow the algae in the laboratory. If it can be cultured, the particular strain will be analyzed for to determine if it is similar to the strains seen in Texas. Also the DEP would then pursue testing to determine methods of controlling or eliminating the algae without use of algaecides.
4 comments
Hopefully WV DEP has learned enough about golden algae that these algal blooms are not ‘acts of god’ - they only ocurr under conditions of high salinity. Such conditions do not ocurr in just any aquatic environment. The conditions that lead to the algal bloom are obviously associated with the high TDS/Chlorides coming that WV DEP allowed to be pumped from the Blacksville No. 2 mine into Dunkard Creek. Also likely that Consol has been pumping water OUT of Dunkard Creek contributed to concentrating this material and promoting the algal bloom. Thus the blame for this even falls squarely on the shoulders of Consol and WV DEP. They should start acting in respectable manner and accept their responsibility for this disaster.
Andrew Liebhold points to another interesting contributing factor in this sad story.
This morning on WV Public Radio Emily Corio reported on an interview with CONSOL officials after a speach in Morgantown.
In those interviews Consol Energy Spokesman, Joe Cerenzia confirmed that Consol has taken water out of Dunkard creek to augment flow in another stream but after the fish kill, they stopped.
As Ms. Corio reported West Virginia does not regulate water withdrawals. Lower water levels from the withdrawals and lack of rain could have made the chlorides more concentrated.
The whole ‘withdrawal’ question takes us to another important layer of WV’s less than adequate efforts to abide by the Clean Water Act and maintain and improve the physical, biological, chemical integrity of the state’s water resources.
Unfortunately it appears the WVDEP is both understaffed and undersupported in whatever good faith efforts it has been making to address the water use/withdrawal issues. …. For a truly effective effort to have been started several years ago when these issues were beginning to be discussed would have required much more from industry and the Legislature ……
…. The good people in DEP may be moving in the right direction in this regard, but it may be too little too late, unless the legislature recognizes the importance of moving quickly to support and expand WV DEP’s efforts to manage these activities.
Cindy said,
“For a truly effective effort to have been started several years ago when these issues were beginning to be discussed would have required much more from industry and the Legislature ……”
I would also have to add that the Governor has to be wiling to appoint a qualified person who will lead the DEP, even if it means going against the political wishes of the Gov./Legislature, to fullfill the agency’s mission. Huffman is qualified and capable, but his main fault is that he seems to not be willing to stand up against the Gov./Legislature in order to fullfill the agency’s mission. Calling for Huffman to step down without demanding that the Governor/Legislature appoint someone and then step back without interfering is a futile effort. Look at what Matt Crum said happened to him…ousted by legislative pressure because of the heat that the coal industry was catching from enforcement.
There are a lot of people in DEP willing to regulate (any) industry in a fair manner while still keeping this type of constant dodging of compliance from ever happening again. DEP just lacks the strong leadership that is willing to tell the Gov./Legislature the hard truths.
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