Stream damages and water pollution are excessive in WV
From the West Virginia Rivers Coalition, April 2, 2019
PHOTO: Failed sediment controls on the North Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac River. Photo by WVDEP.
Another pipeline has been cited for water quality violations. The WB XPress Pipeline, a 26-mile project in Grant, Randolph, Pendleton and Hardy Counties was recently fined $13,340 by WVDEP for water quality violations to the North Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac River. The proposed agreement for the fine is now open for public comment. Comments are due April 13, send a letter here.
The WB Xpress’ parent company, Columbia Gas Transmission was cited for failing to implement and maintain sediment controls during in-stream construction, which allowed muddy water to impact 19 miles of the North Fork. If that wasn’t bad enough, Columbia didn’t report the muddy water on the spill hotline.
The North Fork of the South Branch flows through Seneca Rocks Recreation Area and is hailed as one of the premier trout streams in West Virginia. Columbia’s fine for their water quality violations should account for the severity of their negligence.
Contact WVDEP, tell them to hold Columbia accountable for their water quality violations. Request the penalty be increased to account for the severity of impacts and Columbia’s repeated negligence and disrespect of environmental laws. Submit your comments here.
West Virginia Rivers Coalition
3501 MacCorkle Ave SE #129
Charleston, WV 25304
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From: West Virginia Rivers Coalition, April 11, 2019
WVDEP has issued a Consent Order to Columbia Gas for violations during construction of the WB Xpress Pipeline. A failed dam at a stream crossing impacted 19 miles of the North Fork of South Branch of Potomac, a pristine trout stream. They were fined approx. $13,000.
WV Rivers is submitting the attached comments requesting an increase in the fine, and we are inviting organizational sign-ons. If your organization wishes to sign-on to our comments, please contact me by 12pm, Friday, April 12, with your organization and authorized signer’s name. The deadline for comments is April 13.
Please share our action alert for individuals to submit comments:
https://wvrivers.org/2019/04/wbxpress/
Thanks!
Autumn Crowe, Staff Scientist
West Virginia Rivers Coalition
304-992-6070, WVRivers.org