Petition to Force the Closure and Sale of Freedom Industries Facility on the Elk River
We, the citizens and taxpayers of the counties affected and customers of West Virginia American Water Company (WVAWCO) do hereby petition and demand that the City of Charleston, WV, the County Comission of Kanawha County or the State of West Virginia or combination of any of these, to use their powers of Eminent Domain to force the closure of, and thereafter purchase, the ENTIRE 'tank farm' now known as 'Freedom Industries' located at the former Etowah Terminal on Barlow Drive on the Elk River, even in the event of any bankruptcy or reorganization filings or motions by the current operators.
Immediately after the purchase, we demand that, after any and all chemicals have safely been removed from this site, the safe demolition of each and every tank, building and any contaminated structure or soil be removed from said site.
After the action above, we demand that regulation and or zoning law be put into place PROHIBITING any storage of chemicals, waste or hazardous material of any and every kind in perpetuity on this site, or any site or location within five (5) miles upstream of the intake system for WVAW Company.
The only acceptable and allowable facility on said site would be as a park or 'green space' but the better use would be the development of storage tanks for potable (drinking) water to use for use in case of any spill of chemical or other foreign material into the Elk River from any point above the intake system of West Virginia American Water company, it's successors or assignees, or any other public or private water system as need may arise.
We, the undersigned, knowing full well how slowly the gears of government turn, demand that immediate action be taken on this, despite any ongoing investigation or litigation so that we, the undersigned and all citizens of the counties and/or customers WVAWCo. do not have to suffer this situation again.
Updates
January 16, 2014
The lack of transparency from local officials regarding the future of the Barlow Drive site remains a primary concern. I am currently compiling the experiences shared by residents to present during the upcoming public hearings.
48 Comments
i feel like freedom, wvaw, and our local, state, and federal government failed to protect us from a totally avoidable accident that has needlessly put all of our health at risk for risk of losing profits.
I am pregnant and do NOT appreciate the carelessness this company took with their storage facility! Not only have you endangered e but you have endangered my unborn child's well being! WV residents should not be suffering because you people didn't do your jobs correctly!!!!
freedom industries should and will be held liable for all costs that i have incurred for replacement of all water filtrations systems leading into our house. the company needs shut down for good and need to be held responsible for the problem that they knew existed. they were given 1 million dollars to correct the problems from previous owners and did nothing to correct any problem what so ever.
I am so angry that this has happened. I am a disabled grandmother raising my deceased daughters children. What can I do to ensure their safety? I will continue to not allow them near this water until it is 100% clear of MCHM
This facility has no need to be in this location and i want it removed. Also any other facility that could endanger our water needs to be strictly controlled.
Charleston wv
They were wrong in what they did and weighting tell often the fact to tell people what happen
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Petition to Force the Closure and Sale of Freedom Industries Facility on the Elk River
We, the citizens and taxpayers of the counties affected and customers of West Virginia American Water Company (WVAWCO) do hereby petition and demand that the City of Charleston, WV, the County Comission of Kanawha County or the State of West Virginia or combination of any of these, to use their powers of Eminent Domain to force the closure of, and thereafter purchase, the ENTIRE 'tank farm' now known as 'Freedom Industries' located at the former Etowah Terminal on Barlow Drive on the Elk River, even in the event of any bankruptcy or reorganization filings or motions by the current operators.
Immediately after the purchase, we demand that, after any and all chemicals have safely been removed from this site, the safe demolition of each and every tank, building and any contaminated structure or soil be removed from said site.
After the action above, we demand that regulation and or zoning law be put into place PROHIBITING any storage of chemicals, waste or hazardous material of any and every kind in perpetuity on this site, or any site or location within five (5) miles upstream of the intake system for WVAW Company.
The only acceptable and allowable facility on said site would be as a park or 'green space' but the better use would be the development of storage tanks for potable (drinking) water to use for use in case of any spill of chemical or other foreign material into the Elk River from any point above the intake system of West Virginia American Water company, it's successors or assignees, or any other public or private water system as need may arise.
We, the undersigned, knowing full well how slowly the gears of government turn, demand that immediate action be taken on this, despite any ongoing investigation or litigation so that we, the undersigned and all citizens of the counties and/or customers WVAWCo. do not have to suffer this situation again.
Updates
January 16, 2014
The lack of transparency from local officials regarding the future of the Barlow Drive site remains a primary concern. I am currently compiling the experiences shared by residents to present during the upcoming public hearings.
48 Comments
How is only five miles upstream a safe distance? How about not in the same watershed?
i feel like freedom, wvaw, and our local, state, and federal government failed to protect us from a totally avoidable accident that has needlessly put all of our health at risk for risk of losing profits.
I am pregnant and do NOT appreciate the carelessness this company took with their storage facility! Not only have you endangered e but you have endangered my unborn child's well being! WV residents should not be suffering because you people didn't do your jobs correctly!!!!
freedom industries should and will be held liable for all costs that i have incurred for replacement of all water filtrations systems leading into our house. the company needs shut down for good and need to be held responsible for the problem that they knew existed. they were given 1 million dollars to correct the problems from previous owners and did nothing to correct any problem what so ever.
I am so angry that this has happened. I am a disabled grandmother raising my deceased daughters children. What can I do to ensure their safety? I will continue to not allow them near this water until it is 100% clear of MCHM
This facility has no need to be in this location and i want it removed. Also any other facility that could endanger our water needs to be strictly controlled.
Charleston wv
They were wrong in what they did and weighting tell often the fact to tell people what happen
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How is only five miles upstream a safe distance? How about not in the same watershed?