Chemical Safety and Drinking Water Protection Act Introduced to U.S. Senate

A group of three United States Senate Democrats introduced legislation on January 27, 2014, in the wake of West Virginia's recent chemical spill that compromised drinking water resources for 300,000 residents. West Virginia's Senators Joe Manchin (D) and Jay Rockefeller (D), along with Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Cal.) announced that the legislation, entitled the Chemical Safety and Drinking Water Protection Act, would amend the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.) to mandate regular state inspections of above-ground chemical storage facilities and require the industry to craft state-approved emergency response plans.  The Bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environmental and Public Works.