PINEVILLE, W.Va. (WOAY) – At the Wyoming County Food Pantry, shelves that once held boxes of pasta, canned vegetables, and gallon jugs of water now sit nearly empty. Each week, the line of families in need grows longer, many of them facing not just food insecurity, but unsafe drinking water and few places to turn.
Operating out of the First Methodist Church in Pineville, the pantry serves residents from across the county every Tuesday afternoon. They’re currently feeding between 1,200 and 1,500 people each month.
“We empty our shelves almost every week,” Food Pantry Director Rachel Cook said. “Yesterday alone, we served eight families who had never been here before.”
There are no income requirements to receive food. Organizers say the goal is to meet people where they are, with dignity, compassion, and without judgment.
“It’s not a hand-out, it’s a hand-up,” Cook said. “No family should have to choose between paying their power bill and having dinner to eat tonight.”
With many shelves bare, the pantry is now struggling to keep up.
Rising costs, flood recovery, and a lack of public transportation have made it difficult for many residents to access basic necessities. With only a few grocery stores in the entire county and no public transit system, many families are left with limited options.
“We live in what they would refer to as a food desert,” Cook said. “If you do not have a means to get to and from, you’re really stuck between a rock and a hard place because there’s not that much access to food.”
Tucked away in the hills and hollers of the mountain state, many residents live surrounded by beauty, but cut off from basics. For the elderly and disabled, simply accessing healthy food can be a daily struggle.
Water Crisis Adds to the Burden
“It’s not just food,” Cook said. “Water in this community is a huge issue.”
The water situation in parts of Wyoming County has been a growing concern, with many residents reporting wells drying up and contaminated tap water damaging clothing and appliances.
After this past Tuesday, this is the water that is left for next week. “We give out water every single week. Every family that comes in here gets water,” Cook said.
Each family receives a gallon jug, when there’s enough to give. But even when water is available, it is often far from clean.
“Not only does the water sometimes smell sulfurous or have a bad taste to it, but you’re also running into a lot of iron water. People can’t wash their clothes in the water because it’s ruining their clothes,” Cook said.
Cook says the water issues go beyond household taps, pointing to what many residents feel is a much larger concern.
“If you just look into the waste that is piped directly into the Guyandotte River, it’s a huge problem. I know that our county is doing everything they can to fix it, but it’s so much bigger than that,” Cook said.
Even though they battle to get enough water for residents every week, Cook says giving it out, when they can, is what it is all about for her.
“It’s one of the things that you literally need to survive. Everyone needs healthy drinking water, and I’m so thankful that we’re able to provide families with that,” Cook said.
After years of fighting tooth and nail for basic necessities, residents are worn out.
“It’s very, very sad. It’s something that is really affecting our county, and we’re just hoping there’s an end in sight,” Cook said.
How to Support
The pantry accepts financial donations through Cash App at $wycofoodpantry, through PayPal at wycofoodpantry@gmail.com, or by mail.
“Twenty-five cents adds up. One food item adds up. It all makes a difference,” Cook said.
Local schools, churches, and organizations are encouraged to run targeted food drives, while families are asked to consider donating items they might otherwise sell.
The Wyoming County Food Pantry operates out of the First Methodist Church in Pineville. These shelves often run bare, and bottled water is in short supply. Donations help keep families both fed and hydrated.
“Sometimes it’s going through your old clothes, and instead of selling them for a dollar, it’s saying, you know what, let’s give that away,” Cook said.
In a county where basic necessities are a daily fight, Cook says even the smallest act of generosity can mean the world to communities that are struggling to get by.
FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. (WOAY) – Two AmeriCorps members at New Roots Community Farm were terminated last week with no notice, part of a national wave of federal cuts that eliminated more than 30,000 positions.
While the termination came without official warning, an internal leak had already put the team on edge.
“There was a leak online of what AmeriCorps services they were going to cut, and we were on that leak. So already my hopes were low,” AmeriCorps service member Grayson Cooper said.
Abby Trombley and Cooper had served in their roles for just under two months when the news arrived.
Abby Trombley, originally from Vermont, relocated her life for this opportunity, now the community is rallying to keep her and Cooper on the farm.
“I’m from West Virginia. I left because I didn’t see any opportunity around me,” Cooper said, now the opportunity that brought him back, is in the hands of the community.
It came at an unexpected moment, just after finishing a field trip with Fayette County schools that brought more than 100 students to the farm.
“We had just done a field trip. There were like 120 kids,” Cooper said. “We were working, and one of my managers asked me to pull something up on my phone, and that’s when I saw the email saying ‘cease service immediately.’”
“It felt like we just started scratching the surface, and now it seems like it’s over, you know? It’s very sad to the whole team, we’re all bummed out,” Trombley said.
Trombley was proud of the work they had done in just a few months, but the job was terminated just as quickly as it started.
New Roots Community Farm has employed AmeriCorps members for years, and they often serve essential roles in the community.
“We have had AmeriCorps service members since late 2019,” said Susie Wheeler, executive director at New Roots. “They’ve participated in our farm-to-school and community program development.”
A Bridge Between the Farm and the Community
Trombley and Cooper were responsible for the farm’s community outreach efforts.
“I do a lot of the community outreach side of things,” said Cooper. “So I do field trips, 4-H, community work as well as days with the farm team, plus I’m out here planting, harvesting, doing all kinds of hands-in-the-dirt work as well.”
Day to day, they worked both in the fields and with the public.
“It varies,” Trombley said. “We’re doing pop-up farmers markets, hosting school kids for field trips, and leading programs to teach kids about community and local farming, where their food comes from.”
“If I’m not here, I’m just at the house I’m currently living at, just spiraling. So I’ve been showing up and volunteering,” Cooper said.
Cooper echoed the impact of those experiences, especially in a state where access to fresh food and environmental education is often limited.
“We take produce to schools that give kids better free access to local produce,” he said. “It improves health… and gives them more power over themselves, to be like, ‘You don’t have to go to the store and buy this every single week. You have the power to do this for yourself and for your community.’”
Though they’d only been in their roles a short time, both had already woven themselves into the lives of those in the community.
Trombley relocated to Fayetteville from Tucker County in April. Cooper had just moved back to his home, West Virginia, after finishing school out of state.
“I planned my life around this,” Cooper said. “I care about this farm. I care about this work.”
AmeriCorps Response
While local AmeriCorps partners have remained in constant contact, service members say the national office has been largely silent.
“The national office has been absolutely crickets. I’ve heard nothing from them,” Cooper said.
AmeriCorps programs are structured in tiers, with funding flowing from the national office to state and regional partners. In West Virginia, New Roots receives its AmeriCorps placements through an intermediary organization called High Rocks.
Labels at the market carry more than branding—they represent trust built with schools, neighbors, and volunteers over the years.
“The West Virginia AmeriCorps, absolutely fantastic, they’ve been doing meetings every single day, emailing every single day with new updates. They’ve been fighting to get us all educational awards back,” Cooper said. “They’re currently filing suits, trying to get West Virginia to also file a suit—because there’s currently over two dozen states that are suing against this.”
Although the local office has been extremely helpful, Wheeler echoed confusion with the decision coming from the top.
“It is hard to understand why a program that, from my personal and professional perspective, has been hugely impactful, has brought many people to West Virginia and helped them start new career pathways, would be cut,” she said.
As state officials and service organizations worked behind the scenes, the New Roots team turned its attention to what it could control, how to keep growing.
Shifting Plans, Staying Grounded
For New Roots Community Farm, the termination came with no roadmap. There was no transition period, no phase-out plan—just a sudden loss of support.
“Our first response to something that felt like a pretty sudden and unexpected change is to say, how do we continue operating in that plan?” said Wheeler. “And so that’s what we want to do.”
Wheeler said their absence didn’t disrupt the farm’s mission, but it meant redistributing responsibilities at a time when programming was already underway.
“We’re in the middle of garden development in schools,” Wheeler said. “We’ve got the 4-H club up and running, summer internships on deck, and fresh produce markets starting.”
Cooper said the staff response was immediate. In the absence of clear guidance from AmeriCorps, the farm didn’t pause to wait for answers, it improvised and adapted.
“I expected them to say, we cannot get that money. I’m so sorry you have to go. But they were like, no, we are going to make this happen, you sacrificed a lot for this, so we’re going to make sure that this works for you,” Cooper said.
“So we’ve launched a small fundraising campaign to figure out how to keep them on,” Wheeler explained.
A Community Shows Up
The team at New Roots launched the campaign quietly on Monday, with a $12,000 goal to keep both Abby and Grayson on staff through the summer.
“I was thinking, maybe we’ll get $1,000,” Cooper said.
Within the first 24 hours, the fund was over $10,000.
“For us to be over halfway to our goal within 12 hours was absolutely insane. It just kind of gave me hope again in my community, just seeing how much people care about the farm, care about service members, and just care about people trying to do good work in Appalachia,” Cooper continued.
“It’s our hope not to lose those things. Right? We’ve made commitments to our partners. This work is part of what we do as an organization,” Wheeler said.
“Seeing the community come together is really all you can ask for. And that’s the whole point of what we’re trying to do, bring the community together,” Trombley said.
For those behind the scenes at New Roots, it is about taking care of those who have done the same.
“These are individuals that have, signed up to and committed to this program and have been holding up their end of the deal and have been cut loose for something that is not related to their performance,” said Wheeler. “We want to help figure out how to how to take care of them as they have pledged to us.”
More Than Two People
In a time already marked by uncertainty, the sudden termination of these service roles has unsettled the foundation many people rely on, the belief that hard work and commitment are met with stability.
“I think it creates a lot of insecurity for people to think, why? What is my guarantee if I work hard, if I do a good job? It undermines that sense of security that people want when choosing to engage in service,” Wheeler said.
“I think we should be trusting our local leaders and the people on the ground. I think it’s easy to just look at very large numbers and to take a pen and just start making cuts. And I think that that’s a way to, maybe save some money in the short term,” Wheeler said.
For Abby Trombley, the experience raised a question that hasn’t left her mind since the moment she saw the email.
“I think it’s important to pay attention to it because if it can happen here, it can happen anywhere, right? So impacting our community could also impact your community.”
Grayson Cooper echoed that tension. He left his job and moved back to West Virginia for this role, hoping to contribute to the state that raised him.
“I had to quit my job, move completely out of my last area, back here, just for everything to be cut.”
But even in the aftermath, he said, the support from the community helped steady that doubt.
“I care about this farm. I care about this work, so I’m still going to put my all in it, no matter what the outcome is and what these cuts are doing, and seeing community support has kind of helped me feel like I made the right decision coming back to West Virginia.”
The fundraiser is still active, with a goal of raising $12,000 by the end of May. The money will help fund Trombley and Cooper’s positions through the growing season and support ongoing education and food access programs across the county.
“That money is going to go towards paying Abby and Grayson to continue to perform their role. They would not be designated as an AmeriCorps service member, but they will either be transitioned into employees of New Roots or operating under an internship program being supported by some of our partner organizations,” Wheeler said.
UPDATE: Route 61 from Montgomery Bridge to the mouth of Armstrong Creek has reopened.
Fayette County, WV (WOAY) – In a Facebook post by the Montgomery Fire Department, they stated that Route 61 from Montgomery Bridge to the mouth of Armstrong Creek is closed. This is due to downed trees and wires. It is unknown when it will be opened again. The department asks to use alternate routes.
Richmond, VA (WOAY) – A Virginia corrections officer finds himself on the wrong side of the law.
According to a press release from the Virginia Department of Corrections, on Friday, April 11, Special Agents from the VADOC’s Office of Law Enforcement Services (OLES), arrested now-former Pocahontas State Correctional Center Officer Raekwon Robins. The VADOC says the arrest came following a confession from Robins to previously smuggling drugs into Pocahontas and confirming that he planned to smuggle drugs again in the near future.
OLES Agents executed a search warrant on Robins’s residence leading to the seizure of narcotics totaling more than $150,000 in prison value, a handgun, and $1,000 in cash.
Robins was charged with three counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and two counts of conspiring/delivering a controlled substance to an inmate.
“Anyone, whether they are a corrections employee or otherwise, should seriously weigh the risks of trying to smuggle drugs and contraband into one of our facilities,” said VADOC Director Chad Dotson. “VADOC OLES Special Agents and our intelligence teams are working around the clock to find you. Is a short-term gain worth potential time in prison? Consider that before you try to bring your poison into our secure facilities.”
The VADOC has zero tolerance for the attempted smuggling of drugs or contraband into its facilities. Anyone with information concerning attempted smuggling can call 540-830-9280.
Fayette County, WV (WOAY) – Fayette County Sheriff Jess McMullen has told WOAY that a man is dead after an officer-involved shooting. It happened in Cunard Sunday night as deputies attempted to serve an arrest warrant.
The suspect locked himself inside a house with at least one gun. Deputies negotiated with him and ultimately used tear gas to get him out.
The man allegedly left the house and ran back inside, and aimed a gun. Deputies fired their guns and fatally injured him.
No deputies were hurt. The incident is under investigation. We will keep you updated as we learn more.
According to a post on the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, on Thursday April 17, 2025, Corporal J.T. Howard and Deputy W.A. Sneddon conducted a search warrant at a home in the Lester area of Raleigh County.
The search resulted in deputies finding over 160 grams of suspected fentanyl, approximately $2,000 in cash, two firearms, and ammunition.
According to deputies, the investigation remains open. Criminal charges are pending.
Athens, WV (WOAY) – Concord University faculty and students gathered on campus for a major announcement.
The Concord University Board of Governors held a news conference to announce the unanimous selection of Dr. Bethany Meighen as its 13th president.
Dr. Meighen comes to Concord from the University of North Carolina System. where she served as its Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs. She held a key position as chief student affairs officer and a key liaison between the UNC System Office and its 17 constituent institutions.
Meighan holds multiple degrees in education including a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Charleston and earned her Ed.D. from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Her career has focused on improving access to education and enhancing the student experience through policy development, institutional collaboration, and data-driven decision-making.
“Concord University is making a meaningful difference in the lives of its students, the surrounding communities, and beyond—a mission I’m eager to use all my energy and experience to support and advance,” said Dr. Meighen. “I look forward to working collaboratively with the faculty, staff, students, and the entire campus community to build on the university’s strong foundation and help shape its future in the years to come.”
Dr. Meighan takes over the position held by Dr. Kendra S. Boggess who retires this August. Dr. Boggess has been president since 2014.
In Part 1 and Part 2, we followed a growing water crisis affecting southern West Virginia. Residents have reported everything from brown and black tap water to contaminated streams. Residents in these areas have been seeking help for half a decade, so far, they have been left to fend for themselves.
In this final chapter, we will dive deep into a court case at the center of the crisis in Wyoming County, a case that involves multiple coal companies and how it involves U.S. Senator Jim Justice. We also examine the state and federal laws that should safeguard communities like these, as well as the response that residents have seen from local officials.
The Court Case: Who Bears the Blame
In February 2023, Jamie Christian noticed foul-smelling water flooding into his yard, engulfing his electrical appliances. He had no idea the water was artesianing from an old mine pool beneath his home, or that it would drag his family into a multi-year legal fight with coal companies and the state.
Christian contacted the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP), and soon, Matthew Dillon, a WVDEP Environmental Inspector since 2006 and WVDEP Environmental Inspector Specialist since 2020, went to the Christian residence.
What he saw raised alarms.
In February 2023, an old well started to artesian from the ground causing the yard to flood.
The water contained the sulfate reducing bacteria which the Christians did not yet understand the implications.
“I determined that an unauthorized discharge of water from the area of the Pinnacle Mining Complex permitted under DEP Mining Permit No. U-0204-83 had occurred,” Dillon said in his affidavit.
In the very next line he said, “I further concluded that the conditions in the mine had, as evidenced in the artesianing of the water from the mine pool in the resident’s yard, created an imminent danger to the health or safety of the public or were causing or could reasonably be expected to cause significant, imminent harm to the environment.”
I made many trips to the Christian residence, and each time, water was still coming out of the well currently under litigation.
The water wasn’t just flooding the residence, the water was alive with white, stringy growths later confirmed to be sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). The bacteria emit hydrogen sulfide, a toxic gas that smells like rotten eggs and can cause serious health problems.
Dillon revisited the site on February 28th, a week after his first visit, and saw that the same issues persisted, inciting him to use the tools he had to try to stop the water.
“As a result of the ongoing risk to public health and safety and the environment, I have not terminated the Imminent Harm Cessation Order because of the ongoing risk to the resident and his property,” Dillon’s affidavit said.
In February of 2023, the WVDEP also took note of the sulfate-reducing bacteria in the water in multiple locations.
“DEP has also noted that the artesianing water coming out of the mine pool appears high in sulfides; sulfite bacteria, a white, stringy substance, is present at all four locations where the water has artesianed out of the ground, including under and around the resident’s home, and has been sent by DEP for testing,” Dillon’s affidavit said.
In a nearby creek, residents reported enormous growths of the bacteria, causing a terrible smell and making their eyes burn.
The bacteria releases hydrogen sulfide, a gas that is known to be harmful to humans.
The bacteria forms long, stringy shapes, ghost-like in appearance. and grow in the water in strands sometimes several feet long.
The WVDEP then filed a civil enforcement case in Wyoming County Circuit Court, invoking both the Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act and the Water Pollution Control Act.
“Seeking to enforce compliance with the Director’s orders and prevent imminent danger to the health and safety of the public, the Director brings this civil action brought pursuant to Section 17 of the Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Act, W. VA. CODE § 22-3-17(j), and Section 22A of the Water Pollution Control Act, W. VA. CODE § 22-11-22A,” the initial complaint states.
This lawsuit, Case CC-55-2023-C-23, has become the central legal dispute over water contamination in southern West Virginia.
“The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection used one of its enforcement tools under the surface mining act and brought a civil case against a subsidiary of pinnacle mining, trying to seek remediation of an artesian well that had sprung up in Wyoming County,” said Derek Teaney, Environmental lawyer and Adjunct Professor of Law at Washington and Lee University Law School.
The next hearing will take place in June of this year, meanwhile, residents and streams suffer from a lack of clean water.
The Wyoming County Courthouse was built in 1916 by WV architect A. F. Wysong, who also designed the Charleston Municipal Auditorium.
After Pinnacle arrived in court, they made it clear the mine was bankrupt and halted operations in 2018. Pinnacle argues that the mine and the permits were sold to Bluestone Resources, a company owned by the son of the sitting Senator, Jim Justice.
“Pinnacle said, ‘We sold this mine to Bluestone, and they never did what they were supposed to do.’ So Pinnacle filed a third-party complaint, saying, ‘if we’re responsible, then they are too,’” Teaney explained.
Pinnacle argues that this means the current permit holder, Bluestone, which already faces a huge debt due to environmental violations, is responsible for any current discharge from the mine.
“According to Pinnacle, they had never done what they were supposed to do in taking over the permits that it promised to take over, which would include the one that was causing the artisanal well or spring to form, according to WVDEP,” Teaney said.
The Pinnacle mining complex that is under litigation closed down in 2018. Today, the courts are trying to figure out who now is responsible for the permit.
Bluestone, in turn, brought Alpha Metallurgical Resources into the lawsuit, claiming Alpha owns the Poca #3 seam and may bear responsibility for the current condition, as well as the artesian well.
“You have the permittee who went bankrupt and said they sold it to Bluestone. You have Bluestone, who hasn’t yet taken it over, but says, look, if there’s a problem at this mine, it’s the responsibility of Alpha because Alpha owns the coal seams. And so now Bluestone has filed its own third-party complaint, saying if me, then also them,” Teaney said.
“There’s a lot of finger-pointing going on between three different coal companies, and it was all started just by DEP trying to get a coal company to comply with the law and protect the communities,” Teaney said.
As the legal back and forth was underway, Bluestone Resources sent a representative to the Christian residence to have them sign an affidavit saying they did not feel they were in danger due to the water. Jamie Christian says they signed it before understanding what was in the water.
In court, Bluestone used that affidavit to argue the situation was not urgent.
I have been to the Christian residence multiple times, where I have seen the water still percolating at the surface.
The main flow has been diverted, roughly 50 yards from the Christians home, where it now drains directly into Indian Creek with nothing but a few hay bales to filter it. Indian Creek runs into the Guyandotte, which houses the Guyandotte River Crayfish, a federally listed endangered species.
“Straw bales were placed in the drainage ditch mentioned above to dissipate flow energy
along the ditch channel and prevent excess dirt from entering Indian Creek,” WVDEP Terry Fletcher said in an email.
The Guyandotte River Crayfish (pictured above) has been wiped out from 93% of its range, and now only lives in two creeks in West Virginia.
On February 12th, 2025, the case came before a new judge, the Honorable Judge Miller.
It was a sunny Wednesday morning on the day of the hearing, and in the courtroom sat Judge Miller and lawyers representing Pinnacle, Bluestone, and Alpha. The only other people to bear witness to the hearing were Richard Altizer, Jamie Christian, and myself.
No lawyers objected when the court brought up health and safety, but Raymond Franks, attorney for Bluestone said, “I don’t disagree that, the question of public health and safety is paramount in the Court’s conscience, but it’s not as though the DEP is without a remedy in this particular instance.”
The hearing ended anticlimactically with Judge Miller requesting that all evidence and documentation be presented to the court so he can review it, due to the fact that he is just getting into the case. The next hearing was set for June 9th.
PERMITS INVOLVED
The ongoing court case focuses on WVDEP Mining Permit No. U-0204-83, which is tied to the now-bankrupt Pinnacle Mining Company and NPDES permit WV0090000.
An Imminent Harm Cessation Order (IHCO) was issued to Pinnacle after Dillon’s visit, which initially prompted the litigation.
However, this is not the only permit potentially relevant to the crisis. Residents believe another permit, WV0052531, is also tied to potential mine drainage sites in the area. Community members and environmental investigators believe the water pollution may be tied to discharges at the Maitland Ponds site in McDowell County, within the Tug Fork watershed.
I went to the site of the old Pinnacle mine, but before I could get to it, there was a Bluestone Resources security booth. I talked with a Bluestone worker, who said I was not allowed to go any further.
Down the valley sits the old Pinnacle Mine complex, and next door is an active Bluestone mine.
As contaminated water shows up across the map, the court case, while significant, may address only a fraction of the problem.
Private water testing reveals a striking similarity between the water currently in the court case and the water that is showing up all around the area. The case only deals with the Pinnacle Mine pool and Outlet 118, but nearly half a dozen unregulated discharges seem to originate from the same source.
Stiff tests or “piper plots” let scientists compare the similarities in water using their chemical makeup. When points appear in the same section, it reveals a similarity.
If the court case acknowledges the other sources, the implications have the potential to be monumental.
As documents are being prepared for the court, the next hearing is on June 9, all the while, residents live with the contaminated water.
“There’s nothing other than carrying water to your house. Residents in those areas really have to, you know, in a way, fend for themselves,” Wyoming County Commission President Jason Mullins said.
Laws of the Water – Government Response
What’s happening in southern West Virginia is potentially against the law. The federal Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, along with state-level water quality regulations, are designed to prevent precisely the kind of contamination unfolding across Wyoming and McDowell counties. These laws don’t recommend clean air and water; they require it.
Accessible from the WVDEP website are laws that govern our waterways. Under West Virginia Code of State Rules §47-2-3, also known as the narrative water quality standards, any visible pollutants, such as solids, foam, sludge deposits, color, odor, or biological growths, are violations if they interfere with the designated use of the waterway or impair the water’s aesthetic quality.
One of the many designated uses for West Virginia streams is aesthetics.
The EPA is one of the federal oversight agencies for the WVDEP. If you have a concern about a potential violation, they have a hotline available 24/7.
West Virginia law specifically prohibits:
§47-2-3.2.a. Distinctly visible floating or settleable solids, suspended solids, scum, foam, or oily slick
§47-2-3.2.b. Deposits or sludge banks on the bottom
§47-2-3.2.c. Odors in the vicinity of the water
§47-2-3.2.d. Taste or odor that would adversely affect the designated uses of the affected water
§47-2-3.2.e. Materials in concentrations which are harmful, hazardous, or toxic to man, animal, or aquatic life
§47-2-3.2.f. Distinctly visible color
§47-2-3.2.g. Algae blooms or concentrations of bacteria which may impair or interfere with the designated uses of the affected waters
§47-2-3.2.h. Requiring an unreasonable degree of treatment for the production of potable water by modern water treatment processes as commonly employed
§47-2-3.2.i. No significant impact to the chemical, physical, hydrologic, or biological components of aquatic ecosystems should be allowed
These laws were the basis for state action during the 2014 Elk River chemical spill when a chemical known as MCHM leaked into the water supply for 300,000 West Virginians in Charleston and users downstream. At the time, there was no numeric limit for MCHM in the water, but the state used the narrative water quality standards to justify a public health advisory and emergency response.
In contrast, today’s residents have reported elevated levels of heavy metals, SRB, and hydrogen sulfide, but so far, no public health advisory has been issued.
The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) is the agency responsible for enforcing the state’s water laws. According to FOIA-obtained records, WVDEP has been testing water in the affected areas for more than two years.
The agency maintains that all of the available data indicates mine discharge is not the root of the water problems in Indian Creek or beyond.
“The Court has not made any rulings or findings regarding the artesianing/discharging water from the Pinnacle Mine potentially causing groundwater contamination or a public health risk. The discharge monitoring reports from the artesianing area indicate the water coming out of the Pinnacle Mine is in compliance with West Virginia’s water quality standards. The WVDEP has also coordinated with the Department of Health and the Wyoming County Health Department to sample private groundwater wells in the area, but to date, has not found any evidence that indicates the Pinnacle Mine discharge has impacted groundwater well users in the area. Historical groundwater data collected prior to the Pinnacle Mine starting operations shows elevated levels of iron, manganese, and other constituents. WVDEP is continuing to investigate this issue, is engaged in technical assistance from OSMRE, and briefed EPA Region 3 of this situation. Should the agency find evidence that the Pinnacle Mine discharge has impacted a groundwater well, the WVDEP will require the responsible party to provide a permanent solution,” Terry Fletcher said in an email.
In an email to Newswatch, Terry Fletcher said this, yet there have been no measures taken to abate the current circumstances that residents are aware of.
Beyond the narrative water quality standards, the Clean Water Act also requires more proactive oversight. Section 303(d) requires states to identify impaired water bodies that do not meet standards and create plans to improve them.
Despite mounting evidence presented by residents and independent testing, the waterways in question have not been officially listed as impaired by the WVDEP, and no plans have been released.
The ongoing case, CC-55-2023-C-23, cites two key statutes: W.Va. Code § 22-3-17(j), which governs enforcement actions under the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act, and W.Va. Code § 22-11-22a, which governs enforcement actions under the Water Pollution Control Act.
W.Va. Code § 22-3-17(j)
This statute empowers the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection the authority to take coal companies to court when they violate state mining regulations. That includes situations where a company refuses to comply with an official court order, obstructs inspections or violates their permit.
This provision was one of the legal foundations for the state’s case against Pinnacle Mining. Now residents are calling for the same enforcement to be applied across other contaminated areas, not just the one in under litigation.
The law reads,
“(j) Whenever any person: (A) Violates or fails or refuses to comply with any order or decision issued by the director under this article; or (B) interferes with, hinders or delays the director in carrying out the provisions of this article; or (C) refuses to admit the director to the mine; or (D) refuses to permit inspection of the mine by the director; or (E) refuses to furnish any reasonable information or report requested by the director in furtherance of the provisions of this article; or (F) refuses to permit access to, and copying of, such records as the director determines necessary in carrying out the provisions of this article; or (G) violates any other provisions of this article, the rules promulgated pursuant thereto, or the terms and conditions of any permit, the director, the Attorney General or the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the major portion of the permit area is located may institute a civil action for relief, including a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order or any other appropriate order, in the circuit court of Kanawha County or any court of competent jurisdiction to compel compliance with and enjoin such violations, failures or refusals. The court or the judge thereof may issue a preliminary injunction in any case pending a decision on the merits of any application filed without requiring the filing of a bond or other equivalent security.”
W.Va. Code § 22-11-22a
This statute outlines civil penalties for violating West Virginia’s water protection laws, specifically pertaining to coal mining operations. It applies to any permit holder who breaks conditions of their permit, pollutes waterways in violation of state laws, or exceeds any water quality standard, including the narrative water quality standards described earlier.
If a company violates these rules, the WVDEP can impose fines up to $25,000 per day. One month of non-compliance can add up to $750,000 and just nearly $9 million over the course of a year.
The law reads,
“(a) Any person who holds a permit to operate a coal mining operation issued under article three of this chapter who violates any provision of any permit issued under or subject to the provisions of this article or article eleven-a of this chapter is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $25,000 per day of the violation and any person who violates any provision of this article or of any rule or who violates any standard or order promulgated or made and entered under the provisions of this article, article eleven-a of this chapter or article one, chapter twenty-two-b of this code is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $25,000 per day of the violation: Provided, That any penalty imposed pursuant to the Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Act [§§ 22-3-1 et seq.] shall be credited against any enforcement action under this article for violations of standards protecting state waters.”
These provisions give the WVDEP financial leverage when enforcing the law, when they choose to use it.
Clean Air Act (CAA)
While much of the attention has focused on water contamination, methane, a potent greenhouse gas, also plays an important role in the crisis.
West Virginia has no independent methane regulations. As a result, the state defaults to federal standards and is required to submit a State Implementation Plan (SIP) to show how it will meet those federal air quality benchmarks.
Many residents, already skeptical of the WVDEP, also lack faith in broader government intervention, including from the EPA. To date, no methane-related enforcement or mitigation has been made public in connection with the suspected gas releases in the Brenton/Baileysville area.
Newswatch has submitted a FOIA request to confirm whether methane monitoring, regulation, or enforcement has been carried out in the region, but has not received them at the time of writing.
County Response
Jason Mullins, president of the Wyoming County Commission, was one of the first officials I contacted about the water crisis. He acknowledged the severity of the issue.
“They need public water, whether you’re on a small well out there that’s not reliable or whether you have really bad water that comes in your house for another reason,” Mullins said.
“Some of this county is in desperate need for water. They’re to the point where it can’t hardly be filtered. It can’t be fixed. It’s got to be replaced. We have to find something better than what they have now for a source,” Mullins said.
Mullins said he wasn’t exactly sure when the commission was first informed of the issue, but felt that it wasn’t long ago.
Correspondence shown to me by Richard Altizer dated back over a year, and residents along Indian Creek don’t remember it being so recent.
“I know that word has gotten out to them, and they’ve had proof that the water situation is bad down through here. I just don’t understand why they’re dragging their feet,” Indian Creek resident Theresa West said.
The commission maintains that part of the problem is cost. Mullins said installing public water infrastructure would be too expensive for the county alone.
From Left to right: Dr. Samuel Muscari, Jason Mullins, Randall Aliff
“It ranges anywhere between $40,000 to $70,000 per household right now in this area to provide public water to these homes. It’s not the type of money that we have with the county commission. It’s things that we have to apply for grants and loans, and to make happen.” Mullins said. “We take tax money from Wyoming County, and we do our engineering, we do income surveys. We see exactly what the problem is.”
In February, the commission announced it had secured over $18 million in funding for water system upgrades targeting Pineville, Brenton, and Baileysville.
“These upgrades happen from the Pineville system, eventually, water lines will be put in the ground,” Mullins said.
In a county commission meeting in February this year, the commission announced they had secured funding for water upgrades to Pineville and an extension to Brenton and Baileysville, in total costing over $18 million.
These systems will draw water from the Guyandotte River, into which Indian Creek and other polluted tributaries flow, and despite that funding, no plan is currently in place to get water to residents along Indian Creek and other affected areas.
For now, these residents are on their own.
“There’s nothing other than carrying water to your house. The only thing residents in those areas really have is to, you know, in a way, fend for themselves,” Mullins said.
Mullins also said that the county commission is not in contact with the WVDEP about the issue, and he does not know who, if anyone, is. Our conversation went like this:
Mullins: I haven’t seen anything directly from the DEP.
Delanty: There’s been like no contact from the DEP to the county Commissioner that you know of?
Mullins: Not that I know of. If they have, they may have contacted someone here at the courthouse, but I haven’t spoken to them myself.
Delanty: Okay. Do you know who would be the source for that?
Mullins: I do not, no sir.
“Everyone has their place to work, and staying in your lane is pretty important,” Mullins went on to say.
Mullins also explained that he could not talk about many of these issues because they are currently under litigation.
Mullins says the county is doing everything it can. But after years of waiting, residents are losing trust.
“Please, please get this done for us,” said Irvin Lee. “We’ve waited an awful long time. We’ve been let down twice now after we’ve been told that we’re going to get it.”
For Roy New, a coal miner, the situation hit home in the worst way, “I dont want them to have to go to school in them clothes, how would they like for me to donate my kids clothes to their kids, have other kids tell them things like ‘you look like a welfare bum,’ they don’t know what that’s like, but I wish they did.”
State Response
In January, I reached out to the office of Governor Patrick Morrisey to request an interview about the ongoing water issues in Wyoming County. Initially, I was invited to the governor’s mansion to discuss the situation in person. That invitation was later downgraded to a station visit, then further reduced to a Zoom meeting.
Forty minutes before the scheduled interview on February 13, Morrisey’s office called to cancel any discussion of the water crisis. I was told the governor would only address topics related to his recent State of the State address. I was told he would instead provide a written statement on the water crisis.
After a month and multiple follow-ups, I was told on March 14 that a statement would be ready that day. At the time of writing, no statement has been provided.
Meanwhile, I also sought comment from Bluestone Resources and Senator Jim Justice, whose family company is tied up in the litigation. After outreach with no response, I learned he was going to be in Welch to show support for the recent flooding.
At Welch Elementary School, I spoke with members of Justice’s team. I informed them that I intended to ask about Bluestone Resources and was directed to Brian Abraham, Senator Justice’s Chief of Staff.
Brian Abraham, Chief of Staff to Senator Jim Justice, said the senator would not take questions about Bluestone.
Abraham told me the senator would not take questions about Bluestone, claiming Senator Justice is not involved in the company, and that operations are handled entirely by his son, Jay Justice. Abraham was unable to provide an official statement explaining this situation.
When Justice took questions at the Welch Armory, I asked him directly. The exchange went as follows:
Delanty: “The DEP has brought litigation in Wyoming County about ongoing safety and water issues. One of the companies named is Bluestone. Do you have a comment on that?”
Sen. Justice: “Well, the only comment that I would have is just this. My son heads up all that situation and everything with Blustone. But I really think if you dig deep into the situation, we are way down the food chain as far as anything that we had to do with anything in regard to this.”
I asked Senator Justice if he wanted to clarify anything in a press interview where he said, “Like I said, at the end of the day, from everything that I know, the amount of involvement that Bluestone has is nothing, zero. There are others that have some involvement, but it’s not Bluestone in this situation.”
Court documents show the permits for the Pinnacle Mining Complex were transferred to Bluestone. That transfer is now being challenged in the ongoing litigation above.
While state leaders maintain their innocence, the water continues to flow into the creeks, the taps, and the lives of so many in this region.
What do residents want?
Coal from southern West Virginia has powered this country for more than a century. From the coal trains and trucks that never stop running, to the 6 million tons of coal exported to China in 2024 alone, the region has produced billions of dollars in natural resources. But for those who live here, the wealth never stayed.
For generations, coal trains have rolled through these hills, carrying away the fuel that built a nation, and leaving behind towns still waiting for something to come back.
Towns like Welch and Bramwell leave echoes of prosperity through empty storefronts and incredible architecture. Bramwell was once known as the “Home of the Millionaires.” Welch hosted John F. Kennedy twice on his campaign trail. Today, the towns sit quiet, proud, but many buildings, abandoned.
Welch is the county seat of McDowell County, just south of Wyoming County. The town is rich with history through the coal wars and even marked an important stop for President John F. Kennedy. At the time, over 100,000 people lived in the city, today, it is down to 18,000.
Coal remains essential to West Virginia’s economy, and few here want to see the mines shut down. Many of the people impacted by the water crisis are current or retired coal miners. They’ve spent their lives underground, pulling out energy for the rest of the country.
They’re not calling to shut it all down. What they want is simple.
Regulation that works, accountability that’s real, and water that won’t make them sick.
Richard Altizer began investigating the issue two years ago, when he suspected that land beneath his home, and many others, had been illegally mined. What began as taking pictures soon turned into delivering water, submitting FOIA requests, and paying for independent water testing on nearby streams.
“I had some friends who lived on the creek. A couple of them had passed away. Now we’ve got a lot of bladder cancers, tumors on bladders, and kidney failures,” Altizer said.
Since then, he has spent nearly $10,000 of his own money on water testing, bottled water, and vehicle repairs.
“I just felt like it was my responsibility. I got help from some of my friends to make sure everybody on Indian Creek gets water. Like I say, we’ve been here for almost two years and we’ll continue to do it as long as they need water,” Altizer said
Longtime friends Jerry Sutherland and Jamie Christian have been pitching in with their trucks and time when the need is greatest.
“I’ve spent hundreds of dollars on gas. I’ve had to put brakes on it, tires on it. But that’s just minor stuff compared to what these people are going through,” Sutherland said.
For many families, the water they receive from Altizer and his crew is the only clean water they have.
“Well, what Richard gives me is the only thing we drink or cook with for anything,” Indian Creek resident Bobby Keane said.
“It’s good to know that somebody cares,” said Ricky Lane. “I mean, it wasn’t for him, we don’t hear anything from anybody. Nobody, I mean, nobody calls, nobody comes. If it wasn’t for Richard, we’d be in a world of hurt.”
Altizer’s efforts have been supported by local groups like the Itmann Food Bank and the nonprofit Blue Jay Rising, which have helped bring in pallets of water for those in need.
“The drinking water has helped us tremendously. And we appreciate it… you don’t think $3 or $4 for a case of water is too much, but having to buy enough to cook and bathe, it’s been a major, major help,” Theresa West said.
“For them bringing this water to us, it just helps so much. We can’t drink or cook with our water, and these pallets? It just helps us in every way,” Adkins said.
Where It Stands and What You Can Do
The situation in these areas remains unresolved, while many residents still wake up every day without access to clean drinking water, and contaminated water still flows into the homes of federally protected wildlife.
If you believe you are witnessing a potential violation of the law, you can report it to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through their toll-free line at 800-438-2474. You can also contact the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.
For those seeking to support local relief efforts, organizations like Blue Jay Rising and the Itmann Food Bank are assisting residents directly.
Thank you for taking the time to follow this reporting. These issues remain urgent for the families who live with these conditions every day.
Richlands, VA (WOAY) – A Southwest Virginia police department is conducting a death investigation.
According to a media release, on April 16, 2025, officers with the Richlands Police Department responded to a call regarding an unresponsive person at a home on East 1st Street. When officers arrived on scene, they discovered a deceased person.
The police department is currently gathering information to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death.
The Richlands Police Department wants to assure the public that there is no indication of any ongoing threat or danger to the community related to this incident.
WASHINGTON, DC (WOAY)- Six people, including children, are dead after a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River in New York. This comes after a second aviation incident at Reagan National Airport. This time, two planes bumped wings while on the ground.
It involved two American Airlines passenger planes, one headed to Charleston and the other to JFK in New York. Several members of Congress were on board, including Representative Nick Lalota, who posted this picture on social media when it happened.
The airport says both planes returned to their gates, no injuries were reported, and there was no impact to flight operations. The incident comes after a mid-air collision at Reagan National in January that left 67 people dead.
Turning to the second incident, New York City police are on the scene after a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River on Thursday. Law enforcement officials say all 6 people on board, including three children, are dead. The victims were a family of tourists from Spain and the pilot.
The helicopter was on its 6th flight of the day and reportedly was in the air around Manhattan for about 15 minutes before crashing into the Hudson River. The NTSB and the FAA will investigate the cause of the crash.
We will continue to track these stories and update you as we learn more. Stay tuned to Newswatch at 11, where we will have more details.
Charleston, WV (WOAY) – The former superintendent of the West Virginia State Police has filed a lawsuit against the state and the Department of Homeland Security.
Former superintendent Jan L. Cahill filed the lawsuit in Kanawha County Circuit Court on Monday, April 7, 2025.
According to court documents, Cahill alleges that conditions within the agency became so bad prior to his 2023 resignation that he was forced to resign, referred to legally as constructive discharge.
Cahill claims in the lawsuit that he was pressured to resign amid allegations and an investigation into corruption and misconduct within the agency.
He also alleges that he faced retaliation for reporting concerns over the handling of CARES Act expenses to the governor, referred to in the lawsuit as whistleblower retaliation.
According to the court document, Cahill claims former chief of staff Brian Abraham allegedly suggested attributing West Virginia State Police’s payroll to COVID expenses.
Jan L. Cahill was appointed as superintendent of West Virginia State Police in January 2017. He resigned in 2023.
Ivydale, WV (WOAY) – A West Virginia man has been arrested and charged after two people were found dead in a Clay County home.
According to a press release from the West Virginia State Police, on Thursday, April 3, 2025, 58-year-old Michael Wayne Adkins of Duck, W.Va., is accused of fatally shooting 38-year-old Richard Bishop of Maysel, WV and 54-year-old Brenda Dennis of Ivydale, WV at a home in the 6000 block of Big Otter Highway in the Ivydale area of Clay County, WV.
Michael Wayne Adkins was charged with two counts of 1st Degree Murder and is currently incarcerated at the Central Regional Jail pending arraignment in Clay County.
Charleston, WV (WOAY) – WV Governor Patrick Morrisey wants to make sure West Virginians are ready for potential storms.
According to a media release from the Governor, a State of Preparedness declaration has been issued for all 55 counties. This due to potential weather patterns that could bring multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms with heavy rains and high winds in West Virginia beginning Wednesday, April 2, 2025, through Sunday, April 6, 2025.
“I am urging all West Virginians to heed weather warnings over the next few days as severe storms make their way across the state,” said Governor Morrisey. “As we continue to monitor developments, I have directed all state agencies and resources to prepare to respond as needed.”
The Governor and the West Virginia Emergency Management Division (WVEMD) is urging residents statewide to watch weather conditions closely and monitor any information released by emergency management officials.
Beckley, WV (WOAY) – A major fundraiser in that serves that serves two Raleigh County charities has been canceled.
According to a post on the Hospice of Southern West Virginia Facebook page, this year’s 20th Annual Friends of Charity Auto Fair is canceled due to unforeseen changes to insurance requirements.
The auto fair served as the largest fundraiser of the year for both Hospice of Southern West Virginia and Brian’s Safehouse bringing popular artists to Southern West Virginia for concerts.
Refunds will be processed within the next 14 business days for those who have already registered, sponsored, or signed up as vendors.
Organizers with the event say, although they are unable to have an event this year, they hope the public will continue to support these two vital nonprofit organizations. They count on the generosity of the donors to helps them provide essential services to our community. Please consider making a donation by visiting their websites:
BLAND COUNTY, VA (WOAY)- Crews are currently battling a fire on East River Mountain.
According to Bland County Emergency Management, the fire started in the 7100 block of Laurel Fork Road and is moving north. Residents on East River Mountain Road are being evacuated, and a temporary shelter is set up at Bland County Elementary School.
The Virginia Department of Forestry is currently reporting that the fire spans 200 acres and is about 35% contained. Earlier, the fire was reported to be spanning 80 acres and was 0% contained.
This story is developing, we’ll update you when we hear more.
Morgantown, WV (WOAY) – The West Virginia Mountaineers have found a new head coach for their men’s basketball program.
According to the Voice of Morgantown website, The Mountaineers will name North Texas Coach Ross Hodge as their next head coach. Hodge will take over for Darian DeVries who left WVU after a single season to become head coach for the Indiana Hoosiers.
It’s important to note that 44-year-old Hodge and WVU Athletic Director Wren Baker do have history. Baker was AD at North Texas before coming to Morgantown.
As head coach of the North Texas Mean Green basketball team for the past two seasons, Hodge led the team to a 43-23 overall record and a 24-12 record in the American Athletic Conference.
Baker acknowledged that “Hodge has won 80 percent of his games as a head coach, and is one of the nation’s best defensive minds in college basketball.” Hodge agreed to a five-year deal with WVU.
Stick with WOAY for more details on this developing story as they become available.
Peterstown, WV (WOAY) – A Monroe County man has died in an early morning house fire.
According to a media release from the WV State Fire Marshal’s Office, the fire happened around 3:00 a.m. on March 18, 2025, at a house located the Seneca Trail area of Monroe County. One person was able to escape the house, but a 77-year-old man was unable to do so.
Due to the severity of damage to the home, investigators with the West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office have declared the cause of the fire as undetermined.
The victim has been sent to the WV Medical Examiner’s Office in Charleston for positive identification and autopsy.
Mount Olive, WV (WOAY) – A West Virginia inmate housed in a Fayette County prison has died.
According to the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (WV DCR), multiple employees have been placed on leave. WV DCR is actively pursuing charges against another inmate.
No additional information is being released at this time as this incident is under investigation by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Criminal Investigation Division and the West Virginia State Police.
In a statement, the Department of Corrections says it is “committed to the safety, quality of life, and well being of those in the care of the legal system in our state. We empathize with the friends and families of those that have experienced the loss of a loved one that was placed in our care.”
Charleston, WV (WOAY) – West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey held a news conference regarding the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament selection process.
Governor Morrisey, joined by West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey, called for an immediate investigation into NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Selection Committee to determine if any backroom deals, corruption, bribes or any nefarious activity occurred during the selection process.
The West Virginia Mountaineer Men’s Basketball team were shockingly left off the 68-team bracket for the 2025 men’s NCAA Tournament. The North Carolina Tarheels got into the tournament ahead of the Mountaineers with arguably a worse resume. The Mountaineers had been projected by a majority of national sports publications to be included in tournament brackets.
According to Governor Morrisey, the Tarheels had representation in the room at the selection process. UNC Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham is the head of the tournament selection committee. The Governor alleges that UNC AD Cunningham has significant bonuses and financial incentives tied to the success of his school’s basketball program.
Attorney General McCuskey is asking for transparency and believes the public deserves to know what objective metrics are used by the committee to ensure the best 68 teams are in the tournament.
“Given the major event that the tournament has become, all fans deserve to know how the selection committee makes its choices,” Attorney General McCuskey wrote in a letter to the NCAA. “Just for the teams, those criteria affect scheduling, lineup choices, and more.”
“And as we look ahead to another season, these student-athletes deserve to know the rules of the game and what they might be up against.”
The AG hopes that the NCAA will cooperate with the state to provide some understanding about the decision to ensure the process is fair, trustworthy and transparent for all student-athletes and fans moving forward.
Charleston, WV (WOAY) – West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey has a press conference on his schedule for today, March 17, 2025.
According to a media release, Governor Morrisey will make an announcement regarding action against the NCAA and the Tournament Selection Committee. The WVU Mountaineer Men’s Basketball team were shockingly left off the 68-team bracket for the 2025 men’s NCAA Tournament. North Carolina got into the tournament ahead of the Mountaineers with an even worse resume.
The Governor is scheduled to address the media at 1 p.m.
PINEVILLE, WV (WOAY) – FEMA will open a Disaster Recovery Center in Pineville on Monday, March 10, in response to the severe storms and flooding that began on Feb. 15, 2025.
The center, located inside the Wyoming County Courthouse at 24 Main Ave, will operate Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. No appointment is necessary to talk with a FEMA representative.
“They will be set up in the courthouse. We will let everyone know that FEMA will be setting up here in the courthouse lobby helping residents perhaps get a little help getting back to normal,” Wyoming County Commission President, Jason Mullins said.
As of March 7, more than $1 million in federal disaster assistance has been approved for over 1,334 households in West Virginia, including those in Wyoming County. This milestone, reached just one week after the disaster declaration, underscores the importance of affected residents applying for assistance.
Pineville courthouse, where the DRC will be set up.
At the Disaster Recovery Center, flood victims can:
Apply for FEMA assistance.
Check the status of existing applications.
Receive help with appeal letters and documentation.
Access other state and federal recovery resources.
Residents can also apply for assistance through the following channels:
Phone: Call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free line operates seven days a week. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service, or others, provide FEMA with your number for that service. fema.gov
FEMA Mobile App: Download and apply directly.
With widespread infrastructure damage across the county, officials are actively working on repairs and restoring access to roadways.
“We have highways in some areas, small roads and driveways and things that either they [DOH] can or can’t help with. We’re seeing them come out and be very effective trying to fix them as quickly as possible,” Mullins said.
Officials are elated to have FEMA in the county and acknowledged that the disaster declaration for this flood came a bit earlier than in the early 2000s.
“I think that back in the 2001 floods, it took over a month to get a disaster declaration… We’re so glad that they are going to be here helping folks get their lives back together. People have had damages to their homes and their property. So, yes, we’re we’re actually thrilled that they’re here helping,” Mullins said.
The Wyoming County Emergency Management Services has been actively assessing flood damage. Residents with flood-related damages are encouraged to contact them at 304-732-6953, available 24/7.
Dump sites for flood debris are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the following locations:
Mullens on Moran Ave.
Oceana on Kopperston Rd.
The landfill will have a box for flood debris only, available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Only flood debris will be accepted.
Flood debris from the February 15th floods piling up on railroad tracks
Donations to support flood relief efforts in Wyoming County can be made to the Wyoming County Community Fund. 100% of donations will be directed to local nonprofit organizations assisting communities recovering from the flooding. For more information and to donate, visit the Wyoming County Economic Development Authority’s website, wyomingcounty.com.
Residents are also encouraged to stay updated through the following local Facebook pages:
PARKERSBURG, WV (WOAY) – Chemours has responded to allegations that it is discharging toxic PFAS chemicals, specifically GenX, into the Ohio River. Levels exceed their permit by hundreds of percent. The company’s statement follows a federal lawsuit filed by the West Virginia Rivers Coalition (WV Rivers). The injunction seeks to enforce state and federal regulations and halt the pollution.
Chemours’ Official Response:
“Chemours is aware of the motion/request for a preliminary injunction filed by the West Virginia Rivers Coalition and is disappointed at the action given that the Coalition’s concerns are already being addressed through an April 2023 Order between U.S. EPA and Chemours. In compliance with that Order, Chemours submitted an Alternatives Analysis and Implementation Plan to reduce discharges, which is awaiting EPA approval. As always, Chemours is committed to being a good neighbor and invites the Coalition to engage directly with the Washington Works team as a community stakeholder.”
Chemours’ response was issued after we published our story on March 3rd. In our original request for comment, sent on February 27th, we requested answers about why the company continues to exceed permit limits for PFAS discharges, why it has asked for three additional years to fix its filtration system, and why it has not implemented offsite disposal methods similar to those at its North Carolina facility.
According to the lawsuit, the EPA order from 2023 was never finalized.
The lawsuit cites Chemour’s own monitoring data, which shows discharge above the legal limits or HFPO-DA (GenX). That data shows that Chemours exceeded its legal discharge limits for GenX by 454% at one outlet and 166% at another.
Washington Works facility near Parkersburg. Courtesy of WCHS-TV
In its response, Chemours did not say why it has requested three additional years to upgrade its filtration system while continuing PFAS discharges at current levels.
In its lawsuit, West Virginia Rivers Coalition says that Chemours already uses offsite disposal for PFAS-contaminated wastewater at its Fayetteville, North Carolina facility, but has not implemented the same process at Washington Works. Chemours did not specifically answer our question about this.
Chemours has until March 11 to formally respond to the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.
The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, which is responsible for enforcing state environmental regulations, has not taken action against Chemours regarding its permit violations. On February 27, we reached out to the WVDEP with specific questions regarding enforcement actions, permit reissuance, and the department’s position on Chemours’ ongoing violations. We have not yet received a response.
We will continue following this story as it develops.
Washington Works facility near Parkersburg. Courtesy of WCHS-TV
PARKERSBURG, WV (WOAY) – In a federal lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, the West Virginia Rivers Coalition is alleging that for years, the Chemours Washington Works facility located just outside of Parkersburg has been releasing PFAS chemicals into the Ohio River. According to that lawsuit, the company is exceeding its legally permitted discharge limits on a vast scale.
“The Washington Works facility has been a chronic violator of their permit for quite some time. So we’re talking about, you know, decades of pollution that the community and the users of the Ohio River have experienced related to their discharges of the PFAS chemicals,” Autumn Crowe, Deputy Director for WV Rivers Coalition said.
At the center of the case is HFPO-DA, commonly known as GenX, a toxic PFAS chemical linked to liver damage, developmental issues, and immune system dysfunction. According to court filings, Chemours has repeatedly violated its Clean Water Act permit by releasing GenX at levels 454% above legal limits at one discharge point and 166% over the limit at another.
Chemours facility outside of Parkersburg, WV. Courtesy of WCHS-TV
The Ohio River supplies drinking water to roughly five million people across West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky. Water from the river flows downstream to major cities such as Huntington, Cincinnati, and Louisville.
“There’s approximately five million people that drink the waters that come from the Ohio River, it’s putting a burden on the water utilities to have to then take that contaminant out of their source water to be able to provide safe water to their customers,” Crowe said.
As part of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, Chemours is legally required to monitor and report its discharges. The evidence used in the lawsuit is self-reported test data, which confirms that GenX levels far exceed federal and state limits.
Water discharge test data showing monthly GenX levels from Washington Works facility.
“Neither of our regulatory agencies have done any enforcement and in the meantime, Chemours is discharging this toxic chemical into the Ohio River, impacting people’s drinking water supplies,” Crowe said.
The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) is responsible for enforcing state-level compliance. West Virginia Rivers Coalition says that it isn’t happening. The EPA issued a consent order against Chemours in 2023, but that order was never finalized, and the pollution has continued.
Environmental Protection Agency plaque
Chemours has admitted its current filtration system is inadequate and has asked for three years to fix the problem. If granted, that would mean three more years of GenX pollution in the Ohio River, with no regulatory oversight ensuring compliance in the meantime.
“They do have filters at the facility. But what’s happening is that they are not able to meet their permit limits. So something is happening at the facility that is exceeding the allowable limit of the contaminant that they’re allowed to discharge,” Crowe said.
The lawsuit seeks a court-ordered injunction forcing Chemours to comply with its permit immediately. Chemours has until March 11 to file its response in court. If the court rules in favor of the plaintiffs, Chemours could be forced to do whatever is necessary to stop the current discharge.
“Our hope at West Virginia Rivers is that the court sees that this is a severe problem and that they work with the company to implement a solution so that they are in compliance with their permit,” Crowe said.
Washington Works facility near Parkersburg. Courtesy of WCHS-TV
Chemours is a spinoff of chemical giant DuPont, which has a long history of environmental contamination. Decades ago, DuPont was found to be knowingly dumping perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) into the Ohio River and surrounding areas through the Washington Works facility. The C8 (PFOA) spill took place over several decades at DuPont’s Washington Works facility near Parkersburg, West Virginia, where the company dumped perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), also known as C8, into the Ohio River and surrounding areas.
This resulted in multiple multi-billion dollar settlements paid out from 2017 to 2023, including over $600 million for personal injury lawsuits, $4 billion to cover future liabilities, and the most recent $1.185 billion for PFAS contamination worldwide. These compounds have been found in every living thing scientists have tested them for, including animals in the Arctic.
Chemours has not yet responded to a request for comment. WVDEP was also contacted for a response, but we have heard nothing back.
