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WV Senate Vote Set On Chemical Spill Bill
By: Associated Press
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The West Virginia Senate plans to vote on whether to impose stronger regulations on above-ground storage tanks after a recent chemical spill in Charleston.
The proposal would require registrations and inspections for most surface-level storage units. Some exemptions exist for farms, water storage, propane and personal-sized tanks, stormwater and wastewater systems and other categories.
If the Senate passes the measure Tuesday, it would go to the House of Delegates.
The bill by Majority Leader John Unger responds to the Jan. 9 Freedom Industries spill, which contaminated 300,000 people's drinking water for days.
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin supports the Senate push to regulate storage facilities.
Unger criticized an earlier bill by the governor for extending regulation only to facilities that could threaten public water systems. The two proposals are combined now.