CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVDN) – Governor Patrick Morrisey announced the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP), in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 3, will begin removing hazardous materials from the former Belchers Cleaners site in Oceana, another step in the administration’s broader effort to protect West Virginia’s water resources and address longstanding water challenges across the state.
“West Virginians have waited long enough for government to get serious about our water problems,” said Governor Morrisey. “We listened to communities across southern West Virginia, committed significant new resources to fixing water and wastewater systems, and now we are continuing that work by addressing potential environmental threats before they become bigger problems. When we find a problem, we are going to act.”
The action follows Governor Morrisey’s Water Listening Tour through southern West Virginia earlier this month and the Governor’s announcement last week of $145 million in new state investment to help unlock more than $450 million in additional water and wastewater projects.
In Oceana, a recent WVDEP inspection conducted in response to a citizen complaint identified another potential threat requiring action. Inspectors discovered the former Belchers Cleaners facility abandoned and in significant structural disrepair, with a partially collapsed roof, unsecured entryways, and open and leaking containers of dry cleaning solvents and other wastes.
The materials include tetrachloroethylene, commonly known as perchloroethylene or “perc,” a synthetic solvent historically used in dry cleaning operations.
WVDEP issued an enforcement order requiring the site to be cleaned up and coordinated directly with EPA Region 3 to mobilize a federal removal action. EPA contractors are expected to arrive Friday, with initial waste containment operations beginning Saturday.
Crews will safely containerize and package remaining waste solvents, sludge, waste filters, drums containing unidentified liquids, and other materials before preparing them for proper storage and disposal. Acting now will reduce the risk that severe weather, continued deterioration of the building, or additional releases could create a greater environmental problem.
“This is what fixing the fundamentals looks like,” said Governor Morrisey. “We are putting money behind water infrastructure, finding and repairing leaks, and removing potential threats to our water resources. These problems developed over decades, but we are moving with urgency to address them and deliver results for West Virginians.”
There is currently no immediate danger to neighboring residents or businesses. WVDEP and EPA will continue evaluating conditions as cleanup proceeds and will adjust protective measures as necessary based on conditions encountered at the site. They will also continue coordinating throughout the removal action and will provide additional information to the Oceana community as the site assessment and cleanup progress.
