Issue Position: Farming and Environment

Issue Position

Farmers are an easy target concerning environmental issues. I do think the EPA has good intentions and protections are needed for our streams and rivers. The EPA shouldn't be regulating every puddle on our farms. Water tests conducted on the Shenandoah River have shown the water quality good along our farming section. Pollution in the Shenandoah, mostly, is coming from the Evitts Run Treatment Facility NOT our farms.

Another environmental issue is Frack Waste. If the state proceeds with fracking at our landfills, our water sources will be at serious risk of contamination and community health would be in danger.Contamination of local waterways was discussed when the LCS Landfill was put in Berkeley County. Geologists gave reports that showed, due to the karst of the Eastern Panhandle, the landfill would directly contaminate the waters all the way to the Shenandoah River in Jefferson County.

Every year, 6 million gallons of leachate (the fluid that collects at the bottom of a landfill) is released into the waters of Berkeley County to be treated in local treatment facilities. The processed waters are then returned to the Opequon. That is fine for normal leachate. Fracking would make a greater impact, one that could not be treated. WE MUST PREVENT THIS FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY.

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