CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Several state senators, in light of the Fayette County train derailment, used Tuesday’s floor session to address the importance of safety and water quality.
Senator Bill Laird (D-Fayette) said the situation should be a teaching tool.
“As a legislative body we should closely monitor the events of this incident in an effort to learn how we might make safer those communities and populated areas located along railroad routes in our state,” Laird said.
Senate Minority Leader Jeff Kessler (D-Marshall) said the scare of contamination from the derailment—on top of last year’s contamination of drinking water from the Elk River—should serve as a reminder of the importance of water quality.
“We may have people, we may have coal, we may oil and gas, we may have commerce and we may have jobs, but the first thing we need is clean water,” Kessler said.
Three tests of the Kanawha River showed no contamination from Monday’s derailment. West Virginia Water Company reopened its intake at its plant in Montgomery on Tuesday afternoon.
A bill moving through the Senate would reduce the number of above-ground storage tanks to be inspected under a year-old state law. Kessler said anything impacting water quality needs to be thoroughly examined.
“I hope that we are mindful of the significant role and the attraction and beauty and tourist dollars that it brings,” Kessler said. “Nobody in this state, no industry, wants to come and locate here if their kids are going to glow in the dark because their water isn’t safe.”