Pure, clean water is essential for life. Because water is abundant in West Virginia, we have been slow to recognize the threats to the safe water we need for drinking, for wildlife habitat and for outdoor recreation.
This came home to us in 2014 when chemicals from above-ground tanks owned by Freedom Industries leaked into the Elk River above Charleston, polluting the drinking water for 300,000 West Virginians in 9 counties.
The threats to our pure water are many, including failing municipal waste treatment plants, industrial pollution, agricultural runoff, and urban stormwater runoff.
The West Virginia Legislature has seemed reluctant to address these threats. We plan to change that.
Read the Study on the Impact of Pipeline Construction on Streams by Trout Unlimited and West Virginia Rivers»
Our Pure Water Platform
We support the passage of the Clean Drinking Water Act.
We support legislation that will create a funding mechanism from fees paid by drilling companies for both preventing and plugging abandoned or orphan gas and oil wells.
We support a new regulatory approach to pipeline construction that would require stream by stream crossing plans, enhanced best management practices on sensitive waters such as wild trout streams, and substantially increase fines for permit violations.
2021 Pure Water Bills
HB 2074
Implementing Recommendations of Study Committee on Reducing Pollution Risks from Horizontal Drilling
CWV Position: Supports
Status: Introduced 2/10/21; referred to Energy & Manufacturing Committee
HB 2132
Natural Gas Horizontal Well Control Act
CWV Position: Supports
Status: Introduced 2/10/21; referred to Energy & Manufacturing Committee
HB 2228
Health Impact of DEP Rules
Sponsors: Chuck Horst, John Doyle
CWV Position:
Status: Introduced 2/10/21; referred to Health & Human Resources Committee.
HB 2316
Allowing Electronic Access to DEP Permitting Information
CWV Position: Supports
Status: Introduced 2/12/21; referred to Government Organization Committee
HB 2562
Industrial Dumping Litter Control
Sponsors: John Hott
CWV Position:
Status: Introduced 2/16/21; referred to Judiciary Committee
HB 2589
Orphan Oil and Gas Well Prevention Act
CWV Position: Supports
Status: Introduced 2/17/21; referred to Energy and Manufacturing Committee
HB 2598
Altering Definitions in Aboveground Storage Tank Act
Sponsors: Chuck Horst
CWV Position: Opposes
Status: Introduced 2/18/21; referred to Energy and Manufacturing Committee; 2/24/21 passed out of E&M Committee but referred to Health and Human Resources Committee; passed out of Health and Human Resources Committee 3/5/21; Passed House 3/10/21; Introduced in Senate 3/12/21; referred to Judiciary Committee 3/12/21
HB 2757
Clean Drinking Water Act of 2021
Sponsors: John Doyle
CWV Position: Supports
Status: Introduced 2/24/21; referred to Health and Human Resources Committee
HB 2980
Groundwater Protection Act Amendments
Sponsors: John Doyle
CWV Position: Supports
Status: Introduced 3/8/21; referred to Health and Human Resources Committee
SB 362
Orphan Oil and Gas Well Prevention Act
CWV Position: Supports
Status: Introduced 2/19; referred to Energy, Industry and Mining Committee
SB 405
Amending Definitions in Above Ground Storage Tank Act
CWV Position: Opposes
Status: Introduced 2/23/21; referred to Judiciary Committee
