West Virginia Seeks Federal Funds for Chemical Spill Assessment

West Virginia is seeking a $350,000 federal grant to assess the damage of a chemical spill that polluted the water supply for 300,000 people.

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin said the money would help with monitoring, testing and screening to determine long-term effects of the Jan. 9 spill by Freedom Industries.

Up to 10 percent can go toward monitoring community health. Part of the money could pay for environmental insurance. But it can’t directly cover cleanup costs.

The grant falls under the Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfields Program, dealing with sites contaminated by petroleum or hazardous substances.

Out of $63.2 million program, 25 percent has to fund petroleum projects.

The Department of Environmental Protection received letters of support from Tomblin, U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, state health officials and Marshall University’s brownfields center.