BELLE, W.Va. — Residents of Belle pressed state regulators Tuesday over how a proposed plastic‑repurposing plant would be monitored and how emissions could affect nearby homes and children.
More than 50 people attended a public hearing hosted by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection as officials reviewed the air quality permit application from Clean‑Seas West Virginia. The company plans to locate the facility on the former 84 Lumber site along Dupont Avenue.
What changes for residents
If the permit is issued, Clean‑Seas would operate a facility that uses pyrolysis to break down plastics into new plastics, fuels and chemicals, according to the company’s website. The DEP’s Division of Air Quality outlined its role: to evaluate the permit application, determine whether proposed emissions meet state and federal standards and accept public comments during a 30‑day comment period.
The public comment period closes July 27 at 5 p.m. Residents who want to weigh in must submit comments to the DEP by that deadline as part of the formal permitting process.
Concerns raised at the meeting
Residents questioned the potential health effects of emissions, especially on children, and asked how much direct oversight the DEP would provide once the plant is operating. Department officials said their role is to verify compliance with air quality rules, not to decide which businesses locate in the area.
- Health impacts on children and nearby families.
- Frequency and extent of DEP inspections and monitoring.
- Overall safety of a pyrolysis plant in a residential area.
“Whether we like it or not, we don’t have enough staff to have somebody all the time at every facility across the state,”
The quote above was offered by Joe Kessler with the Division of Air Quality as he explained how the agency relies on company‑provided monitoring and periodic inspections. He said businesses certify compliance through required forms and the agency conducts inspections as needed.
How the permit review works
DEP officials emphasized the limits of their authority: they evaluate whether an applicant meets air quality requirements rather than approving a business location. They also stressed that monitoring is a mix of company self‑reporting and agency inspections, which are carried out as resources allow.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Permit applicant | Clean‑Seas West Virginia |
| Proposed site | Former 84 Lumber property, Dupont Ave., Belle |
| Process described | Pyrolysis to convert plastics into fuels, chemicals and new plastics |
| Public comment deadline | July 27, 5 p.m. |
Officials from the DEP and its Division of Air Quality were on hand to explain the permitting timeline and to take questions. The hearing satisfied a required component of the permit process, which includes a minimum 30‑day public comment period during which the agency must accept input from neighbors and other stakeholders.
Residents who attended emphasized they want clearer assurances about ongoing monitoring, emergency response planning and the possible long‑term effects of airborne emissions. The DEP acknowledged staffing limits and said that is why permit conditions typically require companies to perform regular monitoring and certification.
For people who want to submit comments, the DEP’s announcement about the Clean‑Seas application describes how to file public input and the deadline to do so. The agency will consider the comments as it evaluates the air permit application.
Reporting from Belle. Colton McRae, News Block.
