Freedom Industries and Chemical Spill

Free Industrial Company polluted the public water supply system in nine counties in Charleston, West Virginia, suffered an outflow of chemicals that affected nearly 100,000 families and companies estimated to be close to 300,000 people It was. This problem caused a series of problems affecting the residents of the contaminated areas as well as the company itself and the government. By forming an emergency response plan as soon as possible, it is possible to significantly reduce or prevent the risk of outflow of chemical substances. Or, at least for people effective in addressing leakage, it can be made easier.

About 4 years ago on January 9, 2014, 4-methylcyclohexane methanol (MCHM), a chemical substance used to wash coal, leaked out from a tank owned by Free Industrial Company which is currently disbanded . The Elk River, the source of contaminated drinking water, is home to approximately 300,000 inhabitants of the nine West Virginia counties. The monopoly of Free Industry Corporation and West Virginia Water Company did not notify the public about the leak until late even though the spill occurred in the same morning, the two companies almost leaked by accident.

Chemical venting in West Virginia in 2014 caused many controversies on CSIA. There are no data on spilled chemicals such as repeated dose toxicity, carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, specific target organ toxicity, and repeated exposure data. February 4, 2014, the Senate Environment Public Works Committee held a hearing on CSIA shortly after the incident. After the outflow, the House of Representatives approved a bill to protect chemical tanks and public water supply 95-0. This includes new requirements for early detection technology and plans to prevent drinking water contamination