Your Comments Needed on Water Quality Standards Revision

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Your Comments Needed on Water Quality Standards Revision

The Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee Needs to Hear from You!

The WV Legislature will be considering revisions to human health protections within our water quality standards. These revisions are part of a rule proposed by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. Read WVDEPs rule.

The first stop for the rule is the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee. They need to hear from you before they meet in early December! Let them know that clean, safe drinking water is essential for all West Virginians. Ask them to remove loopholes for polluting industries to put even more toxins our drinking water sources.

About the Loophole

WVDEP's rule creates a loophole to allow industries to dump more toxins in our source water. This proposal is part of a second round of human health criteria revisions – the portion of our water quality standards that protect our health from dangerous pollutants like cancer causing toxins, chemicals known to cause birth-defects, and poisons like cyanide.

We analyzed the proposed rule and have come to the conclusion that the policy is dangerous for West Virginia. Not only will it allow more toxins in our drinking water sources, it creates a shortcut for polluters to discharge even more toxins in our water with less public involvement.

About the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee

Before the 2022 Legislature meets in January, a special joint Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee (comprised of both House and Senate members) meets to review all rules proposed by state agencies, like the WVDEP. They have the opportunity to either approve, disapprove or change the rule. A few years ago, the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee dramatically weakened a proposed water quality standards rule by removing an important amendment. The action by the Rule-Making Review Committee set the tone for the legislature and the weakened rule was eventually adopted.

Because of their position as the first stop for the water quality standards rule, it's essential they hear from you!

Fill out this form to contact the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee. We encourage you to customize your message for more impact.

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Members of the Legislative Rule-Making Committee

Subject: Legislative Rule 47 C.S.R. 2 - Water Quality Standards

Message:

As a West Virginian who depends on public drinking water, I am deeply concerned about WVDEP’s proposed Water Quality Standards rule. While I support WVDEP’s adoption of more of EPA’s updated criteria needed to adequately protect human health, I oppose the policy proposed in paragraph 8.2.c for the following reasons: 1. The proposed policy creates a loophole allowing industry to weaken the human health criteria in our water quality standards. This revision benefits big corporations who can afford expensive studies, and puts smaller businesses and the public at a disadvantage who are without the resources to fund similar studies. 2. There is already a process in place to revise water quality standards. The revision sidesteps that process by creating a shortcut with less scrutiny by the Legislature and the public. 3. The loophole is likely to exacerbate existing environmental justice issues by allowing more toxins in waters near industrialized areas, which are often poorer communities that are already struggling with problems related to social, economic, and environmental justice. 4. The proposed revision is vague and sets a bad precedent. The loophole could allow weakened human health criteria in all waters of the state. 5. WV already has the 3rd highest cancer death rate in the nation. Allowing industry to dump more toxic chemicals into our water increases health risks for West Virginians to benefit industry. For the reasons stated above, I strongly encourage the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee strike paragraph 8.2.c from the rule. Thank you for considering these comments.

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