Ohio, Kentucky residents now preparing for effects of chemical spill

[theHandpuppet]

http://www.irontontribune.com/2014/01/10/officials-making-plans-for-imminent-spill/

Officials making plans for imminent spill
Published 4:03pm Friday, January 10, 2014

Only the City of Ironton on this side of the Ohio River should be affected by the chemical spill that contaminated the Elk River on Thursday and shut down much of Charleston, W.Va.

“Most of the other water systems in the county are wells drawing water from aquifers that are close to the (Ohio) River,” Mike Boster, EMA director said. “They shouldn’t be affected.”

On Thursday night a foaming agent used in coal preparation leaked from a tank at Freedom Industries into the Elk. Early Friday West Virginia and federal government declared a state of emergency.

The spill is expected to hit the Ironton area Sunday evening as it flows downriver from the Elk to the Kanawha into the Ohio River.... MORE

http://www.dailyindependent.com/local/x1186921803/Ashland-prepared-for-contaminant
January 11, 2014
Ashland prepared for contaminant
Lana Bellamy The Independent

ASHLAND — Ryan Eastwood, director of Engineering and Utilities in Ashland, said he does not expect the chemical spill putting the state of West Virginia into a national emergency to affect water services in Boyd County.

The spill of the chemical 4-Methylcyclohexane Methanol into the Elk River prompted the West Virginia American Water Company to send out urgent warnings for 300,000 residents in nine counties to not use tap water in any capacity, be it to drink, shower, brush their teeth or any other uses.

The nine counties affected are Boone, Cabell, Clay, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Putnam and Roane.

Should the contaminated water not be properly contained and reach the intake supply of Ashland Engineering and Utilities, Eastwood said they are prepared....

http://www.dailyindependent.com/local/x1186921791/Residents-traveling-for-clean-H2OJanuary 11, 2014
Residents traveling for clean H2O
Tim Preston The Independent

FLATWOODS — Many miles from the source of the spill that has disconnected West Virginia residents from their water supply, Sam Duffield said he can see people coming in off the interstate hoping to find a few gallons of uncontaminated liquid.

“It’s kind of difficult. It kind of shows how fragile our society is. When we have to go without water, people go into a panic,” said Duffield, who grew up along the Elk River near Clay, W.Va. Noting he was in Flatwoods, nearly 70 miles from the source of the spill that­ cut off potable water supplies for residents in nearly a dozen counties, Duffield said “I can see people traveling long distances to get water. They can’t wash, let it touch their clothes or drink it ... to go without water is just about impossible.”

Duffield said he works with people who live near Charleston “who can’t shower or even wash their hands” who are relying upon “good” water at their workplaces.

[Still Sensible]

1. If this is like an oil slick

won't it float from the Elk, to the Kanawha, to the Ohio and then the Mississippi... eventually going out into the Gulf?

[tblue]

2. Somebody's got to go to prison for this.

I couldn't get away with contaminating a public water supply. You couldn't either. We'd be locked up within 24 hours. Time to make the corporations, which they say are "people," pay the same as the rest of us pay. Put the damned CEO in prison.

[ProgressSaves]

3. I'm getting real sick of these coal companies fucking up the beautiful land here in Appalachia.

Well, in this case it was a company that produced a chemical for coal companies... but it's still part of the Big Coal complex.

They have everyone here brainwashed. People worship coal more than they thump their bibles these days.

[theHandpuppet]

4. This is their very well-funded propaganda machine

http://www.friendsofcoal.org/

I see the billboards all over the place.