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MASSIVE CHEMICAL SPILL.
WE WILL GO TO JEAN CASEREZ
STAER.
>> Reporter: THESE TANKS SIT A
MILE FROM WEST VIRGINIA'S ONLY
WATER TREATMENT PLANT.
AND YET THE STATE HAS NOT
INSPECTED THE TANKS SINCE 1991.
THAT'S BECAUSE IT SAYS THE TANKS
ARE NOW CONSIDERED STORAGE.
>> THE MATERIAL THAT THEY WERE
STORING THERE IS NOT A HAZARDOUS
MATERIAL.
>> Reporter: BECAUSE THEY ARE
CONSIDERED NONHAZARDOUS THEY
DON'T HAVE TO BE FULLY REGULATED
BY THE STATE OR FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AND THAT MEANS NO
INSPECTIONS.
>> IT IS SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T
BELONG IN THE RIVER.
>> Reporter: A WATER BIOLOGIST
WHO WORKED FOR 43 YEARS AT THE
STATE'S DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SAYS
JUST BECAUSE IT IS CONSIDERED A
POLLUTANT DOES NOT MEAN IT IS
NOT DANGEROUS.
>> A CLASS OF THOUSANDS OF
CHEMICALS.
>> THESE ARE TANKS THAT SHOULD
HAVE BEEN INSPECTED, I WOULD
IMAGINE.
>> Reporter: WEST VIRGINIA'S
U.S. ATTORNEY HAS LAUNCHED AN
INVESTIGATION AND SAYS REGULATED
OR NOT, HAZARDOUS OR NOT, NO ONE
IS ABOVE THE LAW WHEN IT COMES
TO KEEPING THE WATER SAFE.
>> THE TANKS WERE IN BAD SHAPE,
SECONDARY CONTAINMENT SYSTEMS
WERE SHOTTY, IF THEY HAD A
RELEASE, SAW IT AND DIDN'T
REPORT IT FOR A WHILE, ALL OF
THOSE THINGS ARE THINGS WE WOULD
BE LOOKING TO.
>> Reporter: GOODWIN SAYS IT IS
TOO EARLY TO KNOW IF LAWS WERE
BROKEN BUT THE FACT THAT THE
FACILITY JUST CHANGED OWNERSHIP
MIGHT MAKE IT EASIER TO
DETERMINE WHO KNEW WHAT AND
WHEN.
>> IF YOU VIOLATE FEDERAL
ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS YOU WILL BE
PROSECUTED.
>> Reporter: THE MAYOR OF
CHARLESTON WHO CALLS THIS THE
WORST DISASTER IN HIS CITY
WELCOMES A CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATION BUT DOES NOT LET
THE GOVERNMENT OFF THE HOOK.
>> I'M NOT SURE WHAT
RESPONSIBILITY THE STATE HAS
HERE BUT IF NOT THEM, WHO?
>> Reporter: THE FORMER
BIOLOGIST WITH WEST VIRGINIA'S
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION TELLS ME THE ISSUE
HERE IS THE CHEMICAL.
IT HAS NEVER BEEN FULLY TESTED
SO IT IS NOT KNOWN HOW HAZARDOUS
IT IS.
BECAUSE OF THAT THE STORAGE
FACILITY WAS NEVER INSPECTED
BECAUSE IT IS NOT REGULATED.