Freedom site cleanup addressed at Civic Center meeting

CHARLESTON, W.Va–Kanawha County citizens affected by the January 2014 Freedom Industries MCHM spill expressed their concerns at meeting Tuesday night held at the Charleston Civic Center. The crude MCHM spill resulted in the contamination of drinking water that affected hundreds of thousands of residents, so the ensuing cleanup of the site is a primary concern.

Interim DEP Director of Land Restoration Patty Hickman and Freedom Chief Reconstruction Officer Mark Welch answered questions in a town-hall meeting format about plans to clean up the site. Freedom was recently accepted into the DEP’s Voluntary Remediation Program. Hickman said the meeting aimed to inform the public about the program.

“The primary goal was to tell the public a little bit about how the Voluntary Remediation Program works,” she said. “And because of the interest in the Freedom site and the spill that occurred last year that affected drinking water, it helps people to understand a little better what Freedom will do to clean up their site through this program.”

Not everyone was entirely reassured by the meeting. Dr. Phillip Price had many questions throughout, and said afterward that he remains skeptical.

“I understand that at this point they’re not going to have finished answers,” he said. “What I’m concerned about is the lack of transparency and willingness to share data with the public. When they’re not willing to share data with the public, that raises flags.”

Welch said the meeting was held to educate those that may not be familiar about the program, and to reveal how Freedom is working with the DEP to ensure the site is cleaned up. Both Welch and Hickman indicated that the goal was to have the site cleaned up and ensure drinking water is safe as quickly as possible. Hickman said that the Freedom site is the first of its kind to enter the DEP’s Voluntary Remediation program while it is in bankruptcy.





More News

News
PSC approves settlements involving Mon Power, net-metering cases
Rate increase went into effect Tuesday.
March 27, 2024 - 9:42 pm
News
Speakers at Focus Forward symposium discuss AI capabilities in West Virginia
The event was organized by the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.
March 27, 2024 - 8:30 pm
News
Justice vetoes vaccination exemption bill, draws praise from healthcare groups
Educational and healthcare organizations banded together to urge a veto.
March 27, 2024 - 6:35 pm
News
Testimony wraps up in attempt to remove 2 Jefferson County commissioners from office
Three-judge panel hears 2 days of testimony.
March 27, 2024 - 5:11 pm


Your Comments