Assessing the Impact of the Charleston, WV Freedom Industries Spill on the Public
Oral Presentation
Prepared by J. Rosen
Corona Environmental Consulting, 54 Old Oaken Bucket Rd, Scituate, MA, 02066, United States
Contact Information: [email protected]; (617) 852-0535
ABSTRACT
On January 9, 2014 more than 10,000 gallons of crude MCHM and PPH spilled into the Elk River, ultimately contaminating the water supply of 300,000 citizens of Charleston, WV. The West Virginia Testing Assessment Project (WVTAP) was established as an independent review of the impact of the spill. The team established 4 primary tasks. 1) conduct a pilot household survey to determine the occurrence and variability of MCHM/PPH within local residents houses, with the aim of being able to design a statistically rigorous sampling plan to characterize the concentrations and speciation of chemicals throughout the affected area. 2) determine the odor threshold for crude MCHM and the odor objectionable levels 3) determine whether there was potential for any breakdown or oxidation products of MCHM that might be present and 4) provide an independent review of the recommended safe consumption levels of MCHM/PPH. All results were made available to state officials, the governor, and the public via public meetings and online postings. This project required the combined resources of multiple scientific disciplines and also demonstrated the importance of accurate and precise measurements. This talk will briefly review the results of each of these investigations and discuss future steps and the implications for drinking water systems nationwide.
Oral Presentation
Prepared by J. Rosen
Corona Environmental Consulting, 54 Old Oaken Bucket Rd, Scituate, MA, 02066, United States
Contact Information: [email protected]; (617) 852-0535
ABSTRACT
On January 9, 2014 more than 10,000 gallons of crude MCHM and PPH spilled into the Elk River, ultimately contaminating the water supply of 300,000 citizens of Charleston, WV. The West Virginia Testing Assessment Project (WVTAP) was established as an independent review of the impact of the spill. The team established 4 primary tasks. 1) conduct a pilot household survey to determine the occurrence and variability of MCHM/PPH within local residents houses, with the aim of being able to design a statistically rigorous sampling plan to characterize the concentrations and speciation of chemicals throughout the affected area. 2) determine the odor threshold for crude MCHM and the odor objectionable levels 3) determine whether there was potential for any breakdown or oxidation products of MCHM that might be present and 4) provide an independent review of the recommended safe consumption levels of MCHM/PPH. All results were made available to state officials, the governor, and the public via public meetings and online postings. This project required the combined resources of multiple scientific disciplines and also demonstrated the importance of accurate and precise measurements. This talk will briefly review the results of each of these investigations and discuss future steps and the implications for drinking water systems nationwide.
