CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Kanawha County Commission says West Virginia State University’s lawsuit against Dow Chemical in connection with alleged groundwater contamination will not stop the commission’s exploration of a multi-sports complex at nearby Shawnee Park.
“There’s no health risk to those who are actually playing at the golf course located next door in Institute and there doesn’t appear to be any reason to delay the project for the sports complex,” Commissioner Ben Salango told 580-WCHS Monday afternoon.
The commission and Kanawha County Parks released a joint statement Monday.
Commission President Kent Carper said in the news release, “We do not know the merits of the case, but we do know that Dow has been a good corporate citizen and has worked with the county well over the past several years.”
Carper added that Dow has provided the county with “a thorough, personal briefing on the issue.”
The lawsuit, filed by WVSU last week, claims Dow’s Institute plant released three contaminants that were discovered on the southwest part of the university’s campus where the former Rehabilitation Center is located.
Shawnee Park, which is adjacent to the school’s campus, was not impacted by the pollution. Construction plans to build a new multi-sports complex there are still set for later this year. Salango said they remain committed to the Institute community to provide recreational opportunities.
“The sports complex is very important for economic development. It’s also important for the youth in Kanawha County to be able to play there — baseball, lacrosse, football, soccer, those types of sports — so we want to move forward with the project,” he said.
Salango said he was unaware of any anticipated lawsuit between the university and Dow until it was made public last week.
In the lawsuit, WVSU demands that Dow clean up the pollution, restore the site to its original condition, pay for protective measures on the property and fund ongoing monitoring of contaminant levels.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection have also reviewed the test data and agreed the evidence does not create a risk to human health in the Institute area.
Salango said while “it’s not a surprise there are chemicals in the chemical valley,” he believes WVSU did what it had to do to take protective measures. The lawsuit, he said, has not created an issue between Dow and the county.
“I don’t think the county’s relationship with Dow has been damaged,” he said. “This is an issue between West Virginia State and Dow.”
A Dow spokesperson previously said in a statement, “It is unfortunate the university chose this path, given our partnership with them over many years.”
The county has contacted the state DEP to obtain additional information and studies regarding underground water issues at the school’s campus.
WVSU President Anthony Jenkins previously said the groundwater is not used at the university and that all of their water comes from the municipal water system.