A few weeks ago, fracking waste chemicals were allegedly found near drinking water inputs in West Virginia. Duke University tested the headwaters of Wolf Creek and Lochgelly, and discovered toxic chemicals and radiation in fracking wastewater. It was confirmed that Wolf Creek was contaminated with toxic hydraulic fracking compounds. Furthermore, laboratory test showed that radiation in the water the Lochgelly frack site was over 3,000 picoCurries per liter. Whereas, the safety threshold is 60 picoCurries per liter maximum.
According to the National Cancer Institute, Fayette County now has the highest rate of Leukemia in West Virginia. In Fayette County, there has also been a significant increase in the cancer rate in recent years. Fayette county now has the highest rate per capita of head, neck, lung and colon cancer in West Virginia.
Tuesday, during a public hearing hosted by The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Fayette County residents voice their opinions about the underground injection site on the West Virginia DEP permit renewal for the Danny Webb Construction Company’s site in Lochgelly at Oak Hill High School.
The majority of the speakers opposed Webb’s proposed underground injection control permits, which involves dumped oil and gas waste from sites in Pennsylvania, Virginia and other parts of West Virginia.
“Friends of Water, Plateau Action Network, the National Park Service and even the Fayette County Commission asked the DEP to deny this permit,” reported WV Public Broadcasting.
During the hear, DEP was accused of failing to represent the people.
Earlier this month, the Environmental Quality Board ruled that the state agency tasked with the protecting the environment in West Virginia, violated state law when it allowed Danny Webb Construction to collect waste without a permit.
DEP is considering a permit, which would allow the company to continue accepting fluids from oil and gas exploration, development drilling and production for another five years. The DEP is accepting comments through May 1.
Click here to see a condensed version of an open letter to the Commissioner of the Bureau of Public Health from the Kanawha representative for the WV Mountain Party
Wild But Not so Wonderful 
It is so scary to hear that fracking waste chemicals were found in West Virginia waters. The effects these chemicals have are potentially fatal! It just seems like common sense to stop using fracking all together. Hopefully, after the petition and town meeting, something will be done. However, it seems that this will continue to be a problem until we can find either an alternative process or find ways to use less energy.
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A big problem with fracking is certainly the issue that comes along with having to dispose of the massive quantities of facking liquid after a drilling operation is completed. Fracking fluids needs to be disposed safely if these energy companies want to keep drilling in West Virginia. Regardless of the profit fracking generates, if water is polluted with toxic chemicals, the system needs to be reevaluated for environmental safety.
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