Editor,

I would like to speak to the citizens of West Virginia and to southern West Virginia especially about clean water. You’ve heard the old saying about how you never miss your water until your well runs dry?

Well, the same holds true for toxic water. When the crayfish and fish start dieing and you can’t drink it, bath in it or go swimming in it.

Two corporations here in southern West Virginia wanted to dump tipple slurry into deep mines. Of course, this is legal when approved by the Department of Environmental Protection. Elected officials said so in the West Virginia Legislative Rules, Title 47, Series B, Section 13:24 Issued Pursuant to Chapter 22, Article 11 and Article 12.

Surely the Department of “Environmental” Protection is charged with protecting our water resources. Is the DEP testing coal slurry to make sure it’s safe before approving these applications? We need independent scientific testing to assure its safety. We need to prevent problems now, not later. Remember an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure later.

There are better ways of dealing with coal slurry. For example, the dry cake method. However, the companies want to “inject” because it is cheaper. This will not change unless we ask for a change and actively pursue them to change.

Let me say I am not anti-mining, I am pro clean water. Underground injection is taking place all over southern West Virginia and other states right now. This practice must be stopped for future development and for future generations. What are we doing to our children and grandchildren?

Many well have already been lost and much ground water polluted. Be a part of the solution and let your elected officials and the DEP know how you feel about this issue. Laws can and must be changed.

Thank you,

Frank Preece

Pecks Mill