On Monday, January 9 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s (WVDEP) Division of Air Quality (DAQ) will hold an in-person public meeting to provide information and answer questions regarding Union Carbide Corporation Institute’s draft Title V operating permit renewal for the operation of its Distribution System for Ethylene Oxide, located at 250 Carbide Road, Dunbar, WV.

The purpose of the in-person public meeting is to provide information and answer questions on the Title V operating permit renewal. 

The meeting will be held at the James C. Wilson University Union ballroom on the campus of West Virginia State University in Institute, WV.

Ethylene oxide (EtO) is a colorless, odorless gas, and a carcinogen, released in the Kanawha Valley and other areas in the country. Emissions of EtO, and other chemicals from this plant and others nearby, have impacted communities in the region for decades, many of which are communities of color. This is an air quality, public health, environmental justice issue. 

For some background on this issue, please watch coverage from WSAZ here and here. The WVDEP has more information here.

A virtual meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 10 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM. Pre-registration is required. Verbal comments will only be accepted at the virtual hearing. Written comments may be submitted to the agency at any time until 5 p.m. on Friday, January 20, 2023. Please email Nicole.D.Ernest@wv.gov.