CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Utility regulators won’t rule out emergency plans shielded by anti-terrorism laws while probing a water company’s response to a January chemical spill.
At Monday’s state Public Service Commission meeting, Chairman Michael Albert said protected documents deemed essential could be considered.
West Virginia American Water says many records, including emergency response and prevention plans, are shielded by law or beyond the investigation’s scope. Many have been requested in civil lawsuits.
Businesses affected by the spill, Advocates for a Safe Water System and the PSC’s Consumer Advocate Division disagree. They think emergency plans would show how appropriately the water company reacted to the Jan. 9 spill.
Albert said relevant planning could be considered.
A PSC order is expected later this week.
The Freedom Industries spill contaminated 300,000 people’s tap water for days.
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