Requesting Legislature Consider Recommendations of the Public Water System Supply Study Commission

CAG

January 12, 2018

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Following the water crisis of 2014, the unanimous passage of SB373 established the Public Water System Supply Study Commission to provide annual recommendations to the Legislature to protect the state’s drinking water supplies. The Commission’s fourth report was submitted to the Legislature on December 15, 2017. WV CAG joined allies in urging the Legislature to give the report and its recommendations ample consideration in the interest of advancing public policy protective of public health.

January 11, 2018

The Honorable Mitch Carmichael, President
West Virginia Senate

The Honorable Tim Armstead, Speaker
West Virginia House of Delegates

Members of the Joint Committee on Government and Finance

RE: Public Water System Supply Study Commission Report and Recommendations

Following the water crisis of 2014, the unanimous passage of SB373 established the Public Water
System Supply Study Commission to provide annual recommendations to the Legislature to protect
the state’s drinking water supplies. The Commission’s fourth report was submitted to you on
December 15, 2017 by the Commission’s Chair and State Health Officer, Dr. Rahul Gupta.

Following the directive of the Legislature, the Commission has met 23 times to craft
recommendations for your consideration. The recommendations, which are summarized in
Appendix F of the report, cover important topics that range from improving the state Spill
Reporting Hotline to notifying downstream public water systems of threats to drinking water
quality. Many would require legislative approval to enact.

As 20 undersigned organizations united in our concerns about the safety and security of West
Virginian’s public drinking water supplies, we request that you give the report and its
recommendations ample consideration. We urge you to refer it to appropriate committees for
presentation of the report and discussion of legislation to implement its recommendations.

In the interest of advancing public policy protective of public health, we feel strongly that the work
put into this report by a diverse array of experts deserves your attention and time on the
appropriate committees’ agendas.

Thank you for consideration of this request.

Angie Rosser
WV Rivers Coalition / arosser@wvrivers.org / 304-437-1274

Ellen Allen
Covenant House

Jeff Allen
WV Council of Churches

Julie Archer
WV Surface Owners’ Rights Organization