CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Senator John Unger (D-Berkeley) has announced plans to present a bill during the 2019 Session of the West Virginia Senate following the recent Rockwool controversy.
Rockwool is an insulation plant currently under construction in Jefferson County. Concerns over air pollution and the plant’s close proximity to three schools prompted protests earlier this week at the county’s development authority meeting.
“We’ve had a lot of concerns expressed with the Clean Air Permit given to Rockwool Inc.,” Unger said. “Though the public comment period ran legally, a meeting was not held in the community that will be affected. I want to make sure that in the future, our communities have a chance to give input to the processes that directly affect them.”
The Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Air Quality current policy for projects like Rockwool requires a notice of “intent to issue a permit”. This is to be followed by a 45-day public comment period. A physical public meeting is not required.
“We need to do better,” said Unger. “People who will be affected by development should be able to learn about it, express concerns, and get their questions answered. There’s absolutely no way Rockwool’s air quality permits should have been approved without a public meeting being held in our community. If the citizens’ voices had been heard, I believe these permits would not have been approved at all. That’s why I’m going to introduce this legislation.”
Unger’s bill would require mandatory meetings in the communities that will be impacted by Clean Air and Clean Water permits.
The plant will be located along Granny Smith Lane in Ranson and is projected to bring 150 jobs to Jefferson County.