Following a series of community meetings in the Northern Panhandle last month, a virtual gathering is planned as part of a continuing effort to develop a PFAS Action Plan.

The virtual meeting, scheduled for noon, Dec. 11, is part of an effort through the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, in collaboration with the WV Rivers Coalition and Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services.

The meeting will focus on water systems and communities in northern West Virginia and the Eastern Panhandle region of the state, but anyone interested may take part.

Registration to participate in the virtual meeting can be done through the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/AHEPmN-mSQ6dV7GPemL6Sw

Locally, meetings were held in Weirton, Follansbee, Chester, and Benwood, with other gatherings held in Berkeley Springs, Charles Town, Harpers Ferry, and Martinsburg.

PFAS – also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – can be found in more than 10,000 chemical products, used in the production of a variety of items, including fast food containers, pesticides, stain resistant products, firefighting foam, some makeup, candy wrappers, shampoos, water resistant clothing, non-stick cookware, cleaning products, and some paints.

As part of the meeting, participants will have an opportunity to learn about PFAS and potential impacts to drinking water systems, share local knowledge of potential contamination sites, hear updates on sampling efforts and the creation of the action plan, and ask questions directly to DEP officials.

The action plan is being developed under requirements of the PFAS Protection Act, and will guide how the state identifies PFAS sources, works to reduce exposure and protects drinking water.