CHARLESTON, W.Va. — State Commerce Secretary Woody Thrasher says the current way the state measures water quality hurts in the recruitment of manufacturing jobs to the Mountain State.
“Do we lose jobs when this happens? Absolutely we lose jobs. Absolutely,” Thrasher said during a public hearing Monday morning at the state capitol on the bill.
The measure (HB 2506) would change when the water quality is measured from low-flow conditions to average flow called “harmonic mean.”
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Thrasher called the current way of measuring pollutants in the water, which is called “7Q10,” bad science.
“Don’t for a minute think that when you take that position you don’t send out a very strong message to future employers, whether the expansion of existing facilities or bringing in new ones, that you are not welcome,” Thrasher said.
But there were many speakers at the public hearing who said the bill is a step backward for water quality.
“Some people say, ‘The solution to pollution is dilution,’ this is hogwash,” Trout Unlimited of West Virginia Council Treasurer Larry Orr testified. “The solution to pollution is to stop the pollution.”
Others speakers point out the supporters of the bill, like the West Virginia Manufacturers Association, haven’t said how many new jobs would be created with the change in flow calculations.
The state DEP rejected a similar change that was proposed last year.
Thrasher said he was hired by Gov. Jim Justice to create jobs and the current flow measurement is a hurdle. Thrasher rejected the current method used makes for a healthier West Virginia.
“For heaven’s sake look around. We are 50th in health. Look around at the oxycontin problem we’ve had. You know what that stems from? A lack of a job. If you want to help the health of our citizenry give me the opportunity to attract industry and not shoo them away.”
The bill was scheduled for first reading on the floor of the House of Delegates Monday.