Letter to the Editor: Demand answers, change
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In 2017, the warehouse fire at the old Ames factory had me concerned and sad. The People's Cartage fire has led to outrage. Do corporations paying People's Cartage to store hazardous materials care? Does People's Cartage care? What about our government officials? Do they care? Why would we think that they care when these types of preventable disasters keep happening? It's no wonder more people are leaving Wood County than moving in.
I'm writing this letter in hopes that our government officials care, since many live and work here and have to breathe the same poisoned air and drink the same polluted water. I urge them to take action to protect the public from negligent companies that create and mishandle dangerous materials that are literally killing us. The owners of these companies don't live here. The People's Cartage guy lives in Canton, and it's pretty obvious a $46,000 fine for a fire and improper storage at warehouses in the MOV haven't made a difference.
There is such a history of chemical companies in the MOV causing more harm than good, that its what Parkersburg is known for (i.e. "Dark Waters"). I challenge us all to hold these companies accountable. I ask that we hold our regulatory and safety departments accountable as well. When accidents keep happening, there is a pattern that predicts accidents will continue to occur unless significant change happens. Stop the insanity, please. Demand answers! We are entitled to TRANSPARENCY! Here's a few questions that I think would be important for our government officials to find the answers to:
* Were hazardous materials present? We know the answer to that already, so what quantities and classifications?
* Were all required permits and inspections current?
* Were storage practices compliant with fire and hazardous materials codes?
* Were emergency response plans adequate?
* Are additional inspections of similar facilities planned?
* Will the investigation findings be made public?
* Does current state law provide sufficient oversight of large industrial warehouses?
* Will air and water quality impacts be reported and made public?
"Better living through chemistry" is a slogan DuPont used to market themselves. Do we have a better life here in the Mid Ohio Valley? Ha! What a joke. The joke is on us. No more. This has to stop. Challenge your government representatives to take action to protect us from negligent companies operating in our community.
Patrick Ward
Williamstown