CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice has released a statement following the EPA’s results of a site believed to be contaminated in Minden, Fayette County.
In February, Justice announced he was halting a sewer line project that would have gone from the old Arbuckle PSD sewer plant to the Oak Hill sewer plant. The former Shaffer Equipment site was believed to have a high level of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s).
PCB’s are listed as a possible carcinogen, according to the EPA.
“We have some good news here today in that the EPA has told us there is not an immediate threat to the public in Minden and that they are going to keep investigating to determine if there is any long term threat,” said Justice. “Wisdom requires us to follow EPA’s recommendations.”
Justice also said Thursday he is maintaining his commitment to encouraging the EPA to add Minden to the National Priorities List of Superfund sites.
We have acted promptly and appropriately to protect the citizens of Minden as we do all the time with every West Virginian. #wvgov
— Governor Jim Justice (@WVGovernor) March 8, 2018
The EPA’s results show testing collected last June, which included 37 surface soil samples and 27 sediment samples from Arbuckle Creek, found that PCB’s are present but not at a level posing an immediate threat to public health.
“The EPA does not anticipate the need to take immediate action to address soils in residential areas,” the agency said in a statement.
Two public hearings have been scheduled for residents to ask questions about the sampling results and health concerns. Representatives from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry will be present.
Public hearings:
- Friday, March 16 from 6 until 9 pm.
- Saturday, March 17 from 9 am until noon.
Both hearings will be held at the New Beginning Apostolic Church located at 179 McKinney Road, Minden.