I couldn't agree more with Michael Fisher's remarks.

While we do not have all the details of how and how long the chemicals leaked into the Elk River I have wonder what was Freedom Industries doing during this period.  Were they doing daily walk around inspections of the facilities to determine the status and security of these aging tanks and barriers?  Seems like due diligence was ignored and we see the consequences. 

Other water treatment plant operators must be wondering what threats are up river to their intakes.

While industry certainly has enough regulatory “support” from the state and federal levels, I learned a long time ago while in manufacturing that most, if not practically all, safety issues are a reflection of the upper  management and owner.  They decide on the work practices, safety culture, and how much risk they are willing to subject to the employees and the public.   

Ward makes some good points, but the government is not the root cause.

Michael C. Fisher
President
The CECON Group
242 N. James Street, Suite 202
Wilmington, DE 19804-3168

302.994.8000
302.994.8837 fax
mfisher**At_Symbol_Here**cecon.com
www.cecon.com

Experts at Finding Technical Experts™

-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Secretary, ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
Sent: Thursday, January 30, 2014 11:24 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Fresh Air Podcast: How Industrial Chemical Regulation Failed West Virginia

http://www.npr.org/2014/01/29/268201454/how-industrial-chemical-regulation-failed-west-virginia

On Jan. 9, people in and around Charleston, W.Va., began showing up at hospitals: They had nausea, eye infections and some were vomiting. It was later discovered that around 10,000 gallons of toxic chemicals had leaked into the Elk River, just upstream from a water treatment plant that serves 300,000 people. Citizens were told not to drink or bathe in the water, and while some people are now using water from their taps, many still don't trust it or the information coming from public officials.

Charleston Gazette reporter Ken Ward tells Fresh Air's Dave Davies that the spill included "a chemical called crude MCHM, which was sold by a company called Freedom Industries — sold to coal companies for use in the process of cleaning and washing the impurities out of coal before they ship that coal to market."

For Ward, the episode is far more than the story of an accident and a cleanup: Ward says the spill and the sometimes confusing information authorities have provided about the risks to citizens reflect long-standing regulatory failures in West Virginia and across the nation.

Ward is an award-winning investigative reporter who has been covering West Virginia energy and environmental issues for The Charleston Gazette for years.

Ralph Stuart

secretary**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org

Secretary

Division of Chemical Health and Safety

American Chemical Society