Contaminant in W. VA. creek may be from Pennsylvania drilling

[Divernan]

Contaminant in W.Va. creek may be from drilling
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
The Associated Press

WELLSBURG, W.Va. -- West Virginia regulators say a contaminant that Brooke County fishermen spotted in Buffalo Creek is a clay-like substance used in natural gas drilling.

Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman Kathy Cosco says the bentonite also was found this week in the Ohio River. She says it may have come from a Western Pennsylvania gas well.

The Intelligencer says exposure to bentonite may cause skin, eye, gastrointestinal or respiratory irritation.


Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11131/1145718-100.stm#ixzz1M5NkpHg0

[Divernan]

1. I think water departments should be testing continually,

on the assumption there are fracking toxins in the water. And the drilling companies must be made to pay for the testing. The medical decision rule is, when in doubt, treat.

Not testing at all for each of these toxins, or testing even once a day, can let concentrations through. When this crap was dumped illegally, it did not miraculously mix evenly into the streams or rivers. Of course, as long as the frackers are allowed to conceal the types and amounts of toxins used, it makes it hard for public health officials to know what to test for.

"The W. VA. DEP will test samples to see what other chemicals might be present.

Water departments along the river are taking precautions."

[Curmudgeoness]

2. An update on this story---it is definitely from drilling.

PIPELINE ACCIDENT, RAIN CITED IN BUFFALO CREEK SPILL

A pipeline accident and heavy rains led to clay and foam polluting at least 25 miles of Buffalo Creek in Washington County stretching to the Ohio border, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

The chemicals are not toxic, spokesman Kevin Sunday said, though he declined to name the chemical foaming agent. There have been no fish kills in either Pennsylvania or West Virginia's northern panhandle, meaning the risk to public health likely is minimal, officials in both states had said on Tuesday.



Read more: Pipeline accident, rain cited in Buffalo Creek spill - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/s_736535.html#ixzz1MHS8FYXI