News
WV Congressional Delegation Asking Obama For Spill Help
By: Associated Press
Posted on:
West Virginia's congressional delegation is urging President Obama to reconsider the denial of extra federal aid after a January chemical spill.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Feb. 12 denied Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin's request for reimbursement for first responders, nonprofits and public agencies that assisted during the spill. Tomblin appealed the decision on March 11.
In a letter Tuesday to Obama, the state's two U.S. senators and three House members cite at least a $61 million economic impact in nine counties affected by the spill.
The spill tainted 300,000 people's water for days. Restaurants lost profits while shuttered during the ban.
FEMA said it determined additional assistance wasn't warranted because certain costs associated with response and recovery efforts weren't beyond the state and local governments' response and recovery capabilities.