May 31, 2018

Manchin Applauds EPA Regional Administrator for Visiting Minden Following his Urging

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) applauded the announcement that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Cosmo Servidio will host a public listening session in Minden to provide a brief update regarding the EPA’s investigative activities and hear residents’ concern regarding contamination in the community.

Earlier this month, Senator Manchin urged Regional Administrator Servidio to visit Minden. The session will be held on June 7, 2018 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the New Beginning Apostolic Church, 179 McKinley Road in Minden.

“I am thrilled Regional Administrator Servidio has answered my call to visit Minden, meet with its residents, and see firsthand the full range of impacts that PCB contamination continues to have on the Minden community.  I have said that Minden warrants the attention of senior leadership at the EPA and I am pleased the Regional Administrator agrees,” Senator Manchin said.

Minden, West Virginia, located in Fayette County, has been listed as a Superfund site by the EPA since 1984 because the small rural community was contaminated with PCBs by an industrial facility. The EPA has conducted several removal actions on the property since 1984 including the removal of more than 5,000 tons of contaminated soil. Recent reports state that cancer rates are significantly higher in Minden than the rest of Fayette County. 

Tonight, Senator Manchin’s staff will hold mobile office hours from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Minden Community Center to hear directly from Minden residents.

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