|
|
West Virginia
|
|||
WVEC Action AlertsMarch 1, 2004URGENT ACTION NEEDED TOPIC: Saving the Environmental Quality Board The future of the Environmental Quality Board is in serious jeopardy, and it's time to let lawmakers know that we don't want it replaced with some sham alternative. It's time to call every Delegate and Senator, and the Governor as well, and tell them we want to keep the EQB! Background: Last week the House Government Organization Committee passed HB 2717, a bill that would eliminate the Environmental Quality Board as the agency that sets our water quality standards. Instead, the bill would create a new Water Quality Board composed of various agency secretaries and directors to develop the state's water quality standards. The new board would include the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection, the Secretary of Transportation, the Director of Tourism, the Commissioner of Agriculture, the Director of the Department of Forestry, the Director of the Department of Natural Resources, and the Director of the Office of Economic and Community Development. Noticeably absent is the Director of Public Health. HB 2717 is set to be taken up next by the House Judiciary Committee. Today the Senate Judiciary Committee originated and passed to the floor its own version of EQB elimination, SB 724. The Senate's version would put the process of developing West Virginia's water quality standards in the hands of the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection, with no provisions in the bill on how the process would be implemented. Both of these proposals are shams that will allow whoever is Governor at the time to appoint all of the persons who will decide how clean - or how dirty - our water will be (the only exception is the Commissioner of Agriculture, which is an elected office). Both of these proposals would merely further politicize the setting of our water quality standards. Under current law the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) promulgates West Virginia's water quality standards. The board also serves an appellate function, to hear appeals of DEP permit decisions. Currently the board consists of five members, all of whom must have "expertise in water husbandry," they are appointed by the governor, they serve staggered three-year terms so all are not appointed by the same governor, only three can be of the same political party, and none can work for any company that gets NPDES permits from the DEP. The EQB is the closest thing we can get to an "independent" board in this state. All of its deliberations and decisions are made in full public view and with full and open public notice and comment. Even though it is greatly underfunded, EQB has excellent and knowledgeable technical, legal and clerical staff. We simply MUST save the EQB! So please call any and all Delegates and Senators you can and urge them to vote against HB 2717 or SB 724. And call the Governor, too. The toll-free number to reach your Delegates' and Senators' offices is 1-877-565-3447. Or you can find your legislator's direct capitol number at the web site www.legis.state.wv.us . You can call the Governor toll-free at 1-888-438-2731 or e-mail him at Governor@WVGov.org. For more information contact Don Garvin at either DSGJR@aol.com or (304) 533-2969. To Contact your Representatives on Issues: Legislative Reference & Information Center On Line: www.legis.state.wv.us |
|
|