West Virginia

EPA Officials Make Stops in Northern West Virginia

Published

2 years ago

August 25, 2022

EPA Officials Make Stops in Northern West Virginia

U.S. Environmental Safety Company Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe talks to native officers in Paden Metropolis in regards to the work there to revitalize the outdated Corning Glass Works property.

Leaders from the U.S. Environmental Safety Company spent their day Wednesday in a number of areas of northern West Virginia, visiting websites which can be being cleaned up or have now been revitalized, with assist from funding via the Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation.

EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe and Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz frolicked in Wheeling, Paden Metropolis and Morgantown on Wednesday, touring websites and speaking with neighborhood officers, residents and stakeholders. Their first cease was Bethany Creek, the place McCabe and Ortiz spent the morning with biologists from the EPA’s Wheeling workplace.

There, biologists took water samples of the creek and reviewed progress of ongoing tasks to enhance the stream’s high quality for leisure use.

Their subsequent cease was Paden Metropolis and the outdated Corning Glass Works Property, the place they met with Metropolis councilmembers, the Paden Metropolis Growth Authority, and representatives from West Virginia College Brownfields Help Heart and the West Virginia Division of Environmental Safety. PCDA bought the property in 1999 after the Corning Glass manufacturing unit closed in 1991 and is at the moment present process cleanup funded by a $500,000 Brownfields Cleanup grant introduced in Could 2021.

In Could 2022, the EPA additionally chosen the PCDA for a $500,000 BIL-funded Brownfields Evaluation Grant to conduct a number of environmental web site assessments, develop one reuse plan, and conduct neighborhood involvement actions on the 8.6-acre Paden Metropolis Industrial Park. The lack of main native employers within the glass business has considerably impacted Paden Metropolis, resulting in a inhabitants decline of almost 40% since 1991. Utilizing these EPA grants, the PCDA’s aim is to revitalize deserted properties and create jobs.

“President Biden has acknowledged the significance of EPA’s Brownfields program to assist construct again our nation’s economic system with main investments in Brownfields cleanup,” stated McCabe. “The Administration’s fiscal yr 2023 finances proposal in addition to historic $254.5M funding via the Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation to revitalize communities throughout the nation is having a direct impression on revitalizing communities like Paden Metropolis.”

Earlier EPA Brownfields funding included a $65,000 Focused Brownfields Evaluation to evaluate and put together the location for clean-up, and a $36,000 Technical Help grant in 2021 to arrange workforce abilities and availability evaluation supposed to create jobs in makes use of equivalent to mild manufacturing, workplace or small enterprise incubator house.

“EPA’s Brownfields Program empowers states, in addition to non-profits and different stakeholders to work collectively in assessing, safely cleansing up, and sustainably redeveloping Brownfields websites into productive use,” stated Ortiz. “All this work that we do collectively helps to remodel these contaminated websites into neighborhood property that can appeal to jobs and obtain broader financial growth.”

EPA’s Brownfields program has invested $41 million in 43 communities all through West Virginia since 1997, leveraging greater than $1.6 billion from different sources towards financial restoration efforts and creating 5,400 jobs.

The final cease of the journey included a go to to the Monongalia County and Star Metropolis Wastewater Therapy Plant, the place a $25.5 million EPA’s Clear Water State Revolving Fund mortgage helped to fund a $101 million enlargement and improve to the ability.

: U.S. Environmental Safety Company Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe talks to native officers in Paden Metropolis in regards to the work there to revitalize the outdated Corning Glass Works property.

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West Virginia

Diversion and youth prevention are a focus of West Virginia's initial opioid settlement awards

Published

3 hours ago

December 23, 2024

Press Room

Diversion and youth prevention are a focus of West Virginia's initial opioid settlement awards

Child advocacy centers, recovery housing and diversion programs in West Virginia will receive grants as part of the initial round of $10.4 million distributed by the nonprofit allocating opioid settlement funds in the U.S. state with the highest overdose rate.

The West Virginia First Foundation announced funding Monday for 38 programs across six regions of the state representing “a crucial step in addressing the epidemic with both urgency and care,” Executive Director Jonathan Board said.

The proposals were chosen from 174 applications received by the foundation for funding this year for an initial round of around $19.2 million in grants. Foundation officials say they plan to disperse around $8.8 million in supplemental awards to organizations that weren’t selected for the first round, under the requirement that they make adjustments and reapply.

A total of 11 organizations will receive money for youth substance use prevention and workforce development, with the largest share — $442,800 — going to support Seed Sower, Inc. in the southern West Virginia counties of Fayette, Monroe, Raleigh, Summers, Nicholas, Webster, Greenbrier, Pocahontas, Mercer, Wyoming and McDowell. Ten county commissions, local police departments and other organizations received funding for programs to divert individuals from the criminal justice system and provide them with support and treatment with the largest sum — around $625,650 — going to the Berkeley County Diversion and Interdiction Project.

Seven organizations were granted funding for expanding access to transitional and recovery housing, with Southern WV Fellowship Home, Inc. receiving the largest share, $658,800. Ten child advocacy centers across the state are receiving funding, including North Star Child Advocacy Center in Parkersburg, which will receive $720,000 to expand operations.

“The holidays can be a challenging time for many, and we hope this announcement reinforces a message of hope, recovery, and progress for West Virginia communities,” said Matt Harvey, the foundation’s board chair and prosecuting attorney in Jefferson County.

Officials from 55 West Virginia counties signed on to a memorandum of understanding that allows money to be funneled through the West Virginia First Foundation and dictates how it can be spent. The state Legislature and Gov. Jim Justice gave it the green light earlier this year.

According to the agreement, the foundation is responsible for distributing just under three-quarters of the settlement money. Around a quarter will go directly to local communities and 3% will remain in trust.

The state is receiving money from each of its settlement agreements on a staggered schedule, with annual payments coming until at least 2036. The private foundation alone is expected to receive around $367 million over the next five years.

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West Virginia

2025 West Virginia hunting, trapping, fishing licenses now on sale

Published

13 hours ago

December 23, 2024

Press Room

2025 West Virginia hunting, trapping, fishing licenses now on sale

The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) announced that annual hunting, trapping and fishing licenses and stamps for the 2025 seasons are now available for purchase online at WVhunt.com.

“A West Virginia hunting and fishing license is your ticket to unforgettable adventures in the Mountain State,” said WVDNR Director Brett McMillion. “Whether you’re renewing your annual license and stamps or purchasing a lifetime license for your kids or grandkids, buying your hunting, trapping and fishing licenses and stamps has never been more convenient.”

Annual hunting, trapping and fishing licenses and stamps are valid for the calendar year and may be purchased online at WVhunt.com. To learn more about the WVDNR’s 2025 license products, visit WVdnr.gov/2025-license-guide.

WVDNR Promotes Gift the Outdoors Holiday Guide

In addition to encouraging hunters, trappers and anglers to renew their 2025 licenses and stamps early, the WVDNR is promoting digital gift certificates, online lifetime licenses and collectible license cards as part of its annual Gift the Outdoors holiday campaign.

The gift guide includes the following hunting, fishing and outdoors-related gift ideas:

WVDNR Gift Certificates: Can be used to purchase licenses stamps and other hunting and fishing privileges.
West Virginia Lifetime Licenses: A timeless gift for children and grandchildren providing a lifetime of hunting and fishing adventures.
Wonderful West Virginia Magazine Subscriptions: This flagship publication of the WVDNR features immersive storytelling and breathtaking photos that celebrate the natural beauty of West Virginia.

To learn more about these holiday gift options, visit WVdnr.gov/gift-2024.

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