No MCHM found in W.Va. Elk River after industrial stormwater spill

An environmental enforcement boat patrols in front of the chemical spill at Freedom Industries (Credit: Foo Conner, via Flickr)

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection has detected little to no trace of the chemical MCHM in the Elk River after an industrial stormwater collection trench overflowed into the tributary, according to the Associated Press. Freedom Industries, which owns the trench, alerted state officials five hours after the incident occurred.

The West Virginia DEP conducted water testing near the intake of a treatment plant just 1.6 miles downstream from the spill. Filters at the wastewater treatment plant were replaced and Freedom Industries added additional personnel to monitor untreated water near its plant.

The overflow occurred June 13. The exact quantity of the discharge is not known.

Image: An environmental enforcement boat patrols in front of the chemical spill at Freedom Industries (Credit: Foo Conner, via Flickr)