Murky Waters: The East Lynn Oil Spill and the Fight for the Truth

While officials claim the cleanup is over, Wayne County residents are taking testing into their own hands to uncover the true scale of the contamination.

On Tuesday, January 13, a vandalism incident at Appalachian Power’s East Lynn substation triggered an environmental emergency in Wayne County. Approximately 4,900 gallons of transformer oil leaked into the Right Fork of Camp Creek and moved toward Twelvepole Creek.

According to Jason Frame of the West Virginia Department of Health, the state’s oil spill hotline initially alerted authorities, who immediately placed the local water supply on a “sheen watch.” However, once an actual oil sheen was confirmed in the water on Friday, January 16, Mayor Danny Grace escalated the response by issuing a formal “Do Not Consume” order for residents. Source

On Thursday, the Department of Health announced that water tests revealed hydrocarbons in the water supply. The initial test failed to specify the exact hydrocarbons that were present. The possible long term health effects are still unclear leaving residents shaken and angry.

The company claims only two waterways were affected and all visible sheen has been cleaned. Local residents are still reporting contamination, much wider than the initial report. From Laurel creek that flows into Lynn Lake to the tributaries that run in Beech Fork Lake. Many residents have reported their water is still brown. Source

In a search to find the truth, local residents Richard Altizer, Judd Queen, and Jimmy Grand have decided to collect samples of their own for testing. They say the company has been trying to cover up the severity of the spill, a spill that took officials almost a week to officially announce. Source

Water distribution sites along with shower and laundry locations have been provided until the band has been lifted. As the community waits for more specific test results, the gap between official statements and the reality on the ground continues to widen. For the people of Wayne County, this isn’t just about cleaning up a spill—it’s about restoring a sense of safety that was washed away the moment the oil hit the water. Until the ‘Do Not Consume’ order is lifted and independent tests provide clarity, residents like Altizer, Queen, and Grand will continue to stand as the watchdogs for a community that feels left in the dark.