We called and you listened!

We called and you answered!

Advocates for clean water out numbered industry officials 26:3 in speaking out on SB 687!

As you may know, SB 687 would abandon the assessment of benthic macroinvertebrates (aka “bugs”) as the most scientifically sound way to measure a stream’s biological health from WV’s narrative water quality standards.

As Abigail Benjamin (pictured below with her children) stated, the benthic macroinvertebrates measure increases public confidence in our water.

As noted by John Street and David Manthos during today’s public hearing, stream bugs are like the canary in the coal mine. If the bugs are sick and dying, the stream is no longer safe for fish and other aquatic life. Measuring a stream’s health through bug sampling is the most effective and least expensive way to monitor stream water quality.

Industry officials agree – the health of West Virginia’s rivers and streams are important to the public’s welfare. Bill Raney of the West Virginia Coal Association noted that industry doesn’t want to pollute the water. They fish the waters just like everyone else and the rivers are currently healthy.

Let’s keep them that way.

Citing scientific fact and common sense strategies in water safety, we can only hope that the House Energy committee will listen to reason.

Help us keep the momentum going!

Send a letter to your delegates ask them to respect science and protect stream health by rejecting changes to water quality standards in SB 687!

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Thus far, we have over 700 signatures on the petition asking Governor Jim Justice to veto HB 2506, a bill that would allow more cancer-causing toxins to be dumped into our water supply.

Help us demonstrate West Virginia’s strong support for keeping our drinking water safe. If you haven’t already done so, please sign, and then share the petition with your family and friends!