2014 WV Chemical Spill: 10 Years Later, Calls for Better Regulation
A chemical spill on January 9, 2014, affected 300,000 people in Charleston, WV, leading to a federal disaster declaration. The incident involved 7,500 gallons of 4-methylcyclohexanemethanol (MCHM) entering the Elk River. Days later, uncertainty about the chemical's human health impacts raised concerns about water safety.
The spill occurred at a storage facility that was not regularly inspected by relevant agencies due to MCHM's classification as not acutely toxic. This lack of inspection, along with insufficient data on MCHM's potential harm to humans, contributed to the uncertainty surrounding the water's safety. The incident highlighted gaps in the regulation of chemicals already on the market, as the EPA does not require testing for such substances under the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976.
To prevent future disasters, regulators must ensure proper chemical evaluations, regular facility inspections, and public access to data. The Chemical Safety Improvement Act of 2013 (S. 1009) aims to require systematic evaluations of grandfathered chemicals. However, comprehensive updates to the TSCA, as proposed by the EPA and advocated by the US Congress, are needed to ensure thorough data generation and transparency for all chemicals under the act. Currently, federal databases like TOXNET and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry offer incomplete data, while West Virginia's Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety lacks a publicly available, searchable, or machine-readable database for chemical disclosure filings. Additionally, data on the locations of plants storing MCHM is difficult to access due to West Virginia's reliance on paper-based reporting.
The 2014 MCHM spill in Charleston, WV, underscored the need for improved chemical regulation and data transparency. To prevent similar incidents, regulators must prioritize systematic chemical evaluations, regular facility inspections, and public access to data. Updates to the Toxic Substances Control Act are crucial to ensure the safety of chemicals already on the market.
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