Sludge Safety Project Meets with DEP

In July, OVEC members of the Route 49 area in Mingo County, Coal River Mountain Watch, and other concerned citizens met with head officials of the WV Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Department of Health and Human Resources and the Office of Surface Mining.

We met to inquire about the study, which the WV legislature had mandated the DEP conduct. The study looks into the effects of underground slurry injection on human health and the water aquifer in areas near slurry injection locations.

The mandate came after the Sludge Safety Project lobbied to move a resolution through the 2007 Legislative Session.

We were informed by members of the DEP that some testing had begun, although no testing would be done near Rawl, Mingo County, due to pending litigation. The lawsuit concerns slurry injection carried out by a coal company over the last 20 or so years in our area.

We asked the DEP to allow an independent scientist to accompany them as they carry out tests. We also asked that we be allowed to pick one or two sites to be tested.

The DEP officials said permission for independent scientists’ sampling would have to be obtained from the coal companies involved. DEP assured us they would work to get that permission.

The meeting was held in a very cordial manner. There were no arguments, no allegations made. We were received and treated well.

The DEP officials were very attentive to our suggestions and we listened intently to their representatives. We established a good relationship at the beginning.

We read a letter we had jointly prepared that stated our position on the study and the changes we would like to add to the plan. Overall, the meeting went well. We had another meeting in August, and there’s one set for September.

We hope to receive more information on their testing and approval for independent scientists’ sampling. Only by working together as a group as we are doing will we be able to accomplish our goals.