COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 15
(By Senators Hunter, Foster, Kessler, Minard,
Oliverio, White, Unger and Wells)
[Originating in the Committee on Energy, Industry and Mining;
reported February 23, 2007.]
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the
effects of underground injection of coal slurry on human
health and the environment.
Whereas, The underground injection of coal slurry is an
accepted method of coal slurry disposal for which the Department of
Environmental Protection issues permits; and
Whereas, The most recent information on the effects of
underground injection of coal slurry available to the Legislature
indicates the potential for harmful effects; and
Whereas, The effects of the underground injection of coal
slurry may present serious public health and environmental
questions; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to study the effects of underground injection of coal
slurry on human health and the environment; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Department of Environmental
Protection and the Bureau for Public Health shall jointly design
and conduct, or contract to have conducted, a comprehensive study
on the effects of underground injection of coal slurry, including
the following:
(1)An analysis of the chemical composition of coal slurry,
including an inventory of organic and inorganic compounds;
(2)A hydrogeological study of the migration of coal slurry
or its constituent contaminants from injection wells into the
ground waters or surface waters of West Virginia;
(3)An analysis of the effects of the coal slurry and its
constituent contaminants on human health;
(4)A study of the effects of coal slurry and its constituent
contaminants on public health in communities where it is determined
that coal slurry or its constituent contaminants have migrated into
ground waters currently or historically used for domestic purposes;
(5)An environmental assessment of the effects on surface
water and aquatic ecosystems of the migration of coal slurry or its
constituent contaminants into surface waters; and
(6)Any other considerations that the Department of
Environmental Protection and the Bureau for Public Health deem to be important; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Department of Environmental
Protection and the Bureau for Public Health ensure, through
multiple sampling dates and locations, that the resulting data
identify possible regional variation in the contents of coal slurry
and collect samples of sufficient quantity to provide testable
quantities; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Department of Environmental
Protection shall submit its findings for evaluation by the Bureau
for Public Health and report to the Joint Committee on Government
and Finance on its findings, conclusions and recommendations on or
before December 31, 2007; and, be it
Further Resolved, the Bureau for Public Health report to the
Joint Committee on Government and Finance on its findings,
conclusions and recommendations on or before December 31, 2008;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Department of Environmental
Protection and the Bureau for Public Health prepare and submit a
request to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance setting
forth the anticipated time necessary to conduct each phase of the
study and, if any funds in addition to the current amounts
appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection and the
Bureau for Public Health may be necessary to carry out the study
required herein, a specific proposal for additional funds; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this
study, to prepare reports and to draft necessary legislation be
paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance.