WV County and City Seek to Recoup Costs of Hazmat Spill

Posted by: Curt Varone January 12, 2016 1 Comment

Kanawha County and the City of Charleston, West Virginia have filed a civil suit against the parties responsible for the 2014 Elk River chemical spill. The action was filed in Kanawha County Circuit Court last week naming West Virginia American Water, Eastman Chemical Company and several affiliated parties.

The county and city seek to recoup the costs associated with their response to the emergency, including activation of the Kanawha County Emergency Operations Center. The chemical spill interrupted drinkable tap water to 300,000 people.

Commissioner Dave Hardy was quoted as saying: “The County has an obligation to the public to see to recover all costs relating to the Water Crisis. The responsible parties, not the taxpayers, should be held accountable and made to pay for the damages caused to our county and state.”

More on the story.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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