Wayne County In-Stream Sampling

WVDEP's In-Stream Sampling Summary

These samples were taken in response to the ongoing remediation of the Twelvepole Creek watershed in Wayne County, following a release of transformer oil due to a vandalized substation in the East Lynn area. All samples were collected by WVDEP and/or U.S. EPA personnel and analyzed by ALS Global’s laboratory in Michigan.

The samples were taken in areas where released material has been visible, so it is expected that petroleum-related substances would be detected. The samples were analyzed for general petroleum indicators commonly used to understand the presence of oil-based materials in surface waters. A more tailored sampling method for transformer oil became available recently.

Additional results and sampling reports will be added as they are received from the certified lab.

The purpose of this stream sampling is not to evaluate drinking water, but to establish baseline conditions within affected waterways so WVDEP can confirm, through follow-up sampling, that oil-related material is decreasing and has been removed as cleanup progresses. This sampling will continue as necessary.

Note: Weather conditions on Sunday, January 25, 2026 and Monday, January 26, 2026 prevented representative sampling from taking place.

In-Stream Sampling Data

• Camp Creek & Twelvepole Creek Analytical Results
• In-Stream PCB Sampling.pdf
  

Understanding VOC Detections

Sampling included analysis for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which are carbon-based chemicals that easily evaporate. Detections in these samples generally fall into two categories:

• Source Indicators: Low levels of VOCs, such as Toluene, were tentatively identified in raw and surface water at concentrations orders of magnitude lower than West Virginia’s human health criteria.

• Treatment Byproducts: In finished water, different VOCs—such as Chloroform and Bromodichloromethane—were detected. These are common byproducts formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter during standard treatment and are generally unrelated to the original spill.

For questions regarding drinking water standards, please contact the WVDH Office of Environmental Health Services .

Resources

• DEP-EPA Split Sampling Results
• Lab Report