Introduced Version
House Concurrent Resolution 8 History
OTHER VERSIONS -
Introduced Version
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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 87
(By Delegates Manypenny, Caputo, Perdue, Perry, Fragale,
Hatfield, Morgan, Iaquinta, Swartzmiller, Marshall, Martin,
Miley, Wooton, Moore, Brown, Reynolds, Barker, Moye, D. Poling,
Rodighiero, Fleischauer, Stephens, Skaff, Staggers, Wells,
Longstreth, Mahan, Manchin, Klempa, Kominar, Susman, Tabb,
Talbott, Lawrence, Campbell, Williams, Cann, Butcher, Craig,
Eldridge, Givens, Guthrie, Hall, Hunt, Louisos, Michael, Paxton,
Shaver, Phillips, Frazier, Walker, Stowers, Smith, Shott,
Anderson, Blair, Carmichael, Duke, C. Miller, Porter, Schoen,
Rowan, Schadler and Romine)
[Introduced April 8, 2009; referred to the
Committee on Rules.]
Requesting the Committee on Government and Finance to conduct a
study on the disposal of pharmaceuticals and other hazardous
materials in West Virginia water and wastewater disposal
systems.
W
HEREAS
, West Virginia's water resources is one of its most
precious commodities; and
WHEREAS, For years, consumers were advised that wastewater
sewage disposal was the safest way of disposing unwanted medicines
- However, several studies have revealed the presence of hundreds
of low-level drug and personal care product residues in waterways throughout the country.
W
HEREAS
, These byproducts can include: birth control pills,
estrogen replacement drugs, ibuprofen, mood stabilizers,
antibiotics, bug spray, sunscreen and antibacterial soap containing
triclosan; and
W
HEREAS
, Many of these drugs discovered can act as endocrine
disruptors, compounds that mimic or interfere with human hormones,
while other waste materials contribute to antibiotic resistance;
and
W
HEREAS
, Scientists are examining endocrine disruptors as a
possible cause of "intersex" fish (male fish that are producing
eggs), which researchers have documented in streams in the Eastern
Panhandle streams and other streams; and
W
HEREAS
, Sewage treatment plants are not designed to remove
those types of substances, thus causing them to go back into the
water supply; and
W
HEREAS
, Many cities cannot afford the charcoal filters
required to screen out the final traces of these byproducts from
drinking water; and
W
HEREAS
, It is the intent of the Legislature to improve our
water systems, while also improving the ecological and aquatic life
in our streams and rivers; and
WHEREAS, Hazardous waste disposal events have been held in the
State to work with the public on the proper disposal of hazardous materials to help address this growing problem; and
WHEREAS, These events have proven to be successful yet costly
to operate - $15,000 to $40,000 per event; and
W
HEREAS
, Organizations involved in these types of events
include, but are not limited to: Friends of Cacapon River; West
Virginia Rivers Coalition; Appalachian Center for the Economy and
the Environment; Cacapon Institute; Potomac Headwaters RC&D;
Division of Environmental Protection; Division of Natural
Resources; Division of Forestry; West Virginia Conservation Agency
and the Department of Agriculture; and
W
HEREAS
, There is a need to develop a safe and efficient method
of collecting and disposing of pharmaceuticals; and
W
HEREAS
, The Legislature desires to encourage Hospitals,
Pharmaceutical Industries, Division of Natural Resources,
Department of Agriculture, Division of Environmental Protection and
other entities to establish a better method of waste materials; and
W
HEREAS
, It is the intent of the Legislature to lend support to
these disposal programs by working with the aforementioned groups
and develop ways and means to promote clean water and wastewater
systems in the state; therefore be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to conduct a study on the disposal of pharmaceuticals and
other hazardous materials in West Virginia water and water disposal systems; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2010, on
its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts
of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this
study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be
paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance.