West Virginia Code Chapter 22. Environmental Resources § 22-11-19. Emergency orders

Whenever the director finds that any discharge, release, escape, deposit or disposition of treated or untreated sewage, industrial wastes or other wastes into any waters within this state, when considered alone or in conjunction with other discharges, releases, escapes, deposits or dispositions, constitutes a clear, present and immediate danger to the health of the public, or to the fitness of a private or public water supply for drinking purposes, the director may, with the concurrence in writing of the commissioner of the bureau of public health, without notice or hearing, issue an order or orders requiring the immediate cessation or abatement of any such discharge, release, escape, deposit or disposition, and the cessation of any drilling, redrilling, deepening, casing, fracturing, pressuring, operating, plugging, abandoning, converting or combining of any well, or requiring such other action to be taken as the director, with the concurrence aforesaid, deems necessary to abate such danger.

Notwithstanding the provisions of any other section of this article, any order issued under the provisions of this section is effective immediately and may be served in the same manner as a notice may be served under the provisions of section two, article seven, chapter twenty-nine-a of the code. Any person to whom such order is directed shall comply therewith immediately, but on notice of appeal to the board shall be afforded a hearing as promptly as possible, and not later than ten days after the board receives such notice of appeal. On the basis of such hearing, and within five days thereafter, the board shall make and enter an order continuing the order of the director in effect, revoking it, or modifying it. For the purpose of such appeal and judicial review of the order entered following an appeal hearing, all pertinent provisions of article one, chapter twenty-two-b of this code shall govern.