By Eliza Laubach
In Fayette County, W.Va., residents speaking up against natural gas drilling wastewater spurred a county-wide ban on the use, storage or disposal of any oil or gas waste.
The county pushed to take control of wastewater injection permits following a controversy with the state regarding a wastewater site, owned by Danny Webb Construction, that had been leaking for more than a decade.
Shortly after the ban unanimously passed in January, oil and gas companies operating in the county claimed the ban infringes upon their rights and filed an injunction, effectively halting the ban until a federal court makes a decision. Two days later, Fayette County residents filed a lawsuit asking the company to stop operating the hazardous site.
To the north, in Ritchie County, residents requested that the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection test water near a suspicious well, which confirmed leakage.
Related Articles
Latest News
More Stories
English Language Learning in Appalachia
Learning English is always difficult. But current aggressive approaches to immigration policy are creating more barriers for learners and the programs that serve them than ever before in Appalachia and beyond.
Pike County Rejects Mega Landfill
Many residents of Pike County, Kentucky, are breathing a sigh of relief since county commissioners finalized their decision to rescind a contract with an out-of-state waste management company.
Overdrive: Fossil Fuels in Appalachia
Electricity demand is on the rise. Here, we share snapshots of energy trends in the region and how methane gas, coal and data centers are affecting our communities — and how people are pushing back.
Less Support for Communities with Mine Problems
The Trump administration issued a regulation to weaken the Ten Day Notice process that helps community members call in federal enforcement when state regulators don’t do a good job policing environmental problems at coal mines
Chaos at the Tennessee Valley Authority, Cuts to Public Input
The past year has brought turmoil and uncertainty to the Tennessee Valley Authority, the nation’s largest public power provider, and its more than 10 million customers across the Tennessee Valley.
Landmark Coal Ash Protections Under Attack
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is planning to eviscerate important, hard-won regulations on coal ash, a toxic waste left after burning coal for energy.
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Leave a Comment