Manchin reverses course on water rulemaking bill.

Byline: Ken Ward Jr.

Mar. 7--In a reversal of a campaign pledge, Gov. Joe Manchin has decided not to oppose a bill that would strip the state Environmental Quality Board of its authority to write West Virginia's water pollution limits.

Manchin was persuaded not to fight the legislation by Stephanie Timmermeyer, secretary of the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Under the bill (SB287), authority to write the state's water pollution standards would move from the environmental board to DEP.

The bill was introduced by Sens. Shirley Love, D-Fayette, and John Pat Fanning, D-McDowell.

Last year, under the Wise administration, Timmermeyer opposed any immediate change in the way state water rules are written. This year, she has said she hopes lawmakers will transfer the job to the DEP.

"Rulemaking for water quality properly lies with this agency," Timmermeyer said Friday. …