West Virginia Wants Input on Chemical Storage Tank Rules

West Virginia regulators are asking stakeholders for input as they begin developing rules to implement a new chemical storage tank safety law.

The Water Resources Protection Act regulates above-ground storage tanks like the one that leaked at Freedom Industries on Jan. 9. The spill contaminated the drinking water of 300,000 West Virginians.

The Department of Environmental Protection must write rules to implement the new safety program.

The Charleston Gazette reports that DEP Secretary Randy Huffman sent a letter earlier this month to environmental and industry groups, asking them for written comments before it drafts the new rules. This input will be used as the DEP prepares a first draft of the rules.

Huffman tells the newspaper that the department wants the process to be as open as possible.