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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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WV Spill Heightens Concerns about Ohio EPA

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Friday, January 17, 2014   

COLUMBUS, Ohio – In the wake of West Virginia's big chemical spill, environmentalists are questioning whether the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is adequately prepared to protect the state's waterways.

Last week, the head of the Ohio EPA resigned without explanation, and the agency's water division chief in Ohio resigned last year over reported disputes with the coal industry.

Ohio Sierra Club chair Bob Shields wrote a letter to the governor last week asking for answers and says so far, there has been no response.

"If they're not transparent on something like this, are we going to be able to expect transparency should there be an incident, somewhat similar to what we have going in West Virginia?" he questions.

When asked directly about the letter, the governor's spokesman did not address any points it made.

His response was, in part, "It sounds like some enviro-lobbyists have been watching too many 'West Wing' reruns.

“I'm afraid there's no drama to report here."

Matt Trokan, interim director of the Ohio Sierra Club, says there are 14 lapsed permits in Ohio that would normally regulate dangerous runoff from various aspects of coal mining.

He says water pollution that violates these federal standards poses a threat to waterways and human health.

"The Ohio EPA can start by inspecting the dozens of coal-related facilities operating under expired permits in our state, and require them to meet clean water standards," Trokan says.

Shields adds that a strong state EPA is critical, not only to the health of Ohioans, but to the economy. And he says lessons can be learned from this incident.

"We don't know what the cost of the West Virginia spill will be yet,” he says. “But it will far exceed whatever it would have cost for that company to upgrade, even maintain, its retaining walls, and for the state to inspect that."

Last week, more than 7,000 gallons of a chemical used to process coal leaked from a storage tank and drained into a river near Charleston that feeds the Ohio River, forcing the City of Cincinnati to close its water intake valves to protect its residents.

More than 300,000 West Virginians were without drinking water for several days.





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