Citizen groups gear up for water protection fight

Gov. Jim Justice gives his first State of the State address Wednesday in the House Chamber of the West Virginia Capitol. Credit: SAM OWENS | Gazette-Mail

After Gov. Jim Justice’s promise Wednesday night to rein in what he depicted as out-of-control state regulators, and following a meeting with Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Austin Caperton, environmental groups are gearing up for potential fights this legislative session over rules that aim to protect West Virginia’s rivers and streams.

The West Virginia Environmental Council, the West Virginia Rivers Coalition and other groups are concerned that efforts will be made to reverse the longstanding policy of protecting all of West Virginia’s streams as potential drinking water sources. Read more