DEP rules pass out of Judiciary

At press time last Friday (5th), the House Judiciary Committee was still chewing on the DEP rules.  Here are the highlights.

On the aboveground storage tank rule, WV Rivers Coalition had proposed an amendment that would’ve provided one more level of water protection by requiring tank owners to provide to “product deliverers or transporters” proof “of a valid and unexpired Certificate to Operate,” thus helping to prevent deliveries to non-compliant tanks.  The amendment was offered by Delegate Manchin, but failed on a voice vote.

We had better luck with an amendment to add protective language pertaining for siting requirements for new ASTs. That one was offered by Delegate Skinner, and it passed.  Hooray for small victories!

Our friends at W.V. SORO proposed an amendment that would have required that all drilling waste pits be built to the same standards.  The amendment was offered by Delegate Fleischauer but failed.

The water quality standards rules bill passed without amendment, but not without some poignant questions for the DEP about changes to the aluminum and selenium standards.

The DEP rules have now been “bundled,” and we’ve heard the bill number is H.B. 4053.