Chemicals and Their Dangers Force People From Kanawha Valley

May 7 letter to the editor in the Charleston Gazette

When I retired and returned to Charleston in 1998 I found out about mountaintop removal and thought that was the worst environmental disaster in West Virginia. I didnt know about the Bayer plant back then. Ive lived here for the past 10 years blissfully unaware of the dangers Bayer was visiting on me, my relatives and my friends.

I call on our local officials and our governor to direct the Department of Environmental Protection to rid this area of methyl isocyanate (MIC) and phosgene and to disclose to the citizens all of the toxic substances which are stored in the Kanawha Valley. Forget about the homeland security trash talk. Bayer represents more of a danger to our health and safety than any terrorist organization. Because of our terrain and weather conditions there couldnt be a more dangerous place to store toxic chemicals.

When I left this area more than 40 years ago, the

Charleston population was 86,000. Today were sliding below 50,000 and wondering how to keep our numbers up. After this incident, the word is out about the perils of Chemical Valley and no one would choose to live here. As a matter of fact, Ive decided not to buy a house here. Im relocating away from Charleston at the end of May. My siblings who once thought this would be a good place to retire have changed their minds. As long as these chemicals are stored in the Valley, we will continue to lose population.

Sincerely,