The Shadow
In January 2014, a massive environmental disaster unfolded in Charleston, WV, when about 10,000 gallons of 4-methylcyclohexane methanol (MCHM), a chemical used in coal processing, leaked from a storage tank into the Elk River. Located just upstream from the main water intake, the spill compromised the drinking water supply for roughly 300,000 residents across nine counties. This breach precipitated a severe public health emergency, prompting urgent runs for bottled water and the shutdown of schools and businesses. We must have forgotten our farmer roots and can’t easily figure out that chemicals and drinking water are a dangerous mix… Go figure.
Well, you might know another old farmer saying, “Don’t interfere with somethin’ that ain’t bothering you none.” But what if you can’t see, smell, taste, or hear the somethin’ until it’s too late?
Let’s do a little audience participation poll… Take a look at your clothing. If it says something like “waterproof,” “stain-repellent,” or “dirt-repellant” on the tag, chances are, you are wearing harmful “forever chemicals.” Now look down… are your shoes or clothes made by Nike, Under Armour, or Skechers? More certain than not, you are being toxically exposed to forever chemicals. Forever chemicals are everywhere…in your food packaging, firefighting foams, carpeting, cosmetics, and even dental floss.
Do you live near an industrial plant or paper mill?
What we have here is a bad case of unregulated poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals” seeping quietly into our bodies and the environment. Exposure to forever chemicals has been linked to deadly cancers, impacts on the liver and heart, and immune and developmental damage to infants and children. The structure of forever chemicals means they resist breakdown in the environment and within our bodies. They move relatively quickly through the environment, making their contamination hard to contain.
Turns out, paper mills and processing plants have historically used PFAS chemicals, especially in the production of paper products that require resistance to oil and water, such as food packaging, non-stick pan liners, and other specialty papers. 3M knew back in the 1970s that PFAS chemicals were dangerous. However, consumer demand and lack of political Will in environmental regulation allowed this hazardous chemical to be used in almost everything we’ve touched since the 1930s or almost 100 years now.
Do you know what’s the worst thing about forever chemicals? Manufacturers are not required to disclose to consumers that they are using PFAS chemicals and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) doesn’t regulate or test for most of them.
Yep. This puts Alleghany Highlanders in a highly likely triple jeopardy situation. We already know the Mill legally dumps millions of pounds of methanol, ammonia, sulfuric acid, zinc, lead, chlorine, and formaldehyde chemicals into our air and water every year. But since forever chemicals are not required to be tested or regulated, the Mill is not required to tell you or monitor those chemicals. So adding the known chemicals, the forever chemicals likely used in local manufacturing, and the PFAS that are in your clothes and food packaging, should prompt us to take some immediate, old-school farmer action…If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin.’
Luckily, the visionaries who founded Covington must have been farmers, as they wisely chose to position our drinking water intake upstream from the local mill. Clifton Forge’s water source is from Smith Creek, a pristine, spring-fed mountain stream with no upstream population.
But what about everyone downstream? The Jackson River, a tributary to the James River, weaves through Covington, Clifton Forge, Lynchburg, Richmond, and Williamsburg before emptying into the Chesapeake Bay. This means any contaminants, including known chemicals and persistent PFAS forever chemicals, have the potential to impact the water quality, agriculture, recreation, fishing, and wildlife habitats of these communities all the way to the ocean.
Ripple effect.
Well maybe, just maybe we’ve realized we’re in that chemical hole and have stopped diggin’. In late 2023, 3M was ordered to pay up to $12.5 billion, and Dupont was ordered to pay $1.185 billion to settle liability claims from public water systems for two separate nationwide class action settlements between public water systems and companies that manufactured PFAS chemicals. And just last week on April 10, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the first-ever national, legally enforceable drinking water standard to protect communities from exposure to PFAS forever chemicals. And there’s a cool, sparkling $1 Billion available to help municipalities update their water plants.
We briefly spoke to Allen Dressler, Covington City Manager, and Clifton Forge Town Manager Chuck Unroe about the new EPA regulations. Both responded favorably to the new regulations. Unroe stated, “Yes our treatment plant crew is aware of it and is currently looking for specific guidance as to how we need to proceed.”
Over in the Alleghany Highlands Public Schools AHPS) neck of the woods, we’ve been following a story about a child who was allegedly slapped recently by a substitute teacher. The parent stated, “The Child Protective Services (CPS) agent came to my home and questioned my son, and took pictures of the marks and swollen cheek. The school had eight kids in the classroom write statements that they witnessed the incident.”
The parent also stated that the CPS concluded that the case was unfounded, no abuse had taken place and the substitute teacher could continue without further investigation. The parent is not accepting these findings, nor the alleged lackadaisical response from the City Police. So far he has hired an attorney, has a court date, and a meeting with the Commonwealth Attorney General.
The Shadow Team reached out to AHPS Board Chair Jacob Wright for a comment on the situation. He stated that AHPS takes these allegations very seriously, and while an investigation is underway, AHPS is unable to comment on the situation at this time.
Wright further explained potential delays for an AHPS Board response. “These are serious allegations, however, the Board is only involved in the final step in formal appeals cases for both student and employee discipline and the hiring and firing of staff. We are typically shielded from details that are a part of cases that may come before us so we can be unbiased in our decisions regarding disciplinary actions once a formal case is presented.”
In other news around Covington, seems Walmart may be expanding to now include a gas station. One astute Shadower found an employment listing for a fuel service worker posted on March 9, 2024. What does this mean for the small Mom and Pop gas stations nearby? One plus as a consumer, it will probably drive prices down. The Shadow did a quick informal poll, and 83% of the residents are in favor of a Walmart gas station.
At the April 9 Covington City Council meeting, a boundary adjustment between Dewey Automotive and Wrightway Motors was discussed. City Manager Allen Dressler proposed that 9,584 sq. ft. be vacated toward Wrightway and 9,700 sq. ft. vacated toward Dewey Automotive. He advised there is a possibility of expansion by Wrightway. Dewey Perkins stated in the Council meeting that he doesn’t believe there is a good reason for the road to be shut down. If this happens, the lots on the backside will landlock them and prevent them from selling, building, or providing tractor-trailers easy access.
Multiple sources have stated that they believe the real underlying reason is a side deal in favor of Wright. “Funny how they are getting that car wash and shutting down this street at the same time.” They are “trading this road for a car wash.” The City has denied these accusations. A public hearing is scheduled for next month’s council meeting to further explore the situation.
Finally, overheard at the April 9 Covington City Council meeting regarding the city’s recycling area; “What we don’t understand is people bringing their couches, their chairs, their dead calves… Again I repeat…” “Dead what?” “Calf. Calves. A baby cow.” “That’s what I thought you said….” “We are providing a service to the folks of Alleghany Highlands, and to bring a baby cow to us is… it’s just not good.”
A true case of cow tipping at its finest.
I’m out of time, and out of coffee, but before I sign off, I want to impart one final farmer truth that I can personally attest to…a bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
