On this West Virginia Morning, months of anticipation will come to a head this week as the Jefferson County Planning Commission reviews revised plans for a water bottling site in the rural community of Middleway.

In the months since the Mountain Pure Water Bottling Facility was first proposed, Jefferson County residents have used art and historic education to voice their concerns over the project. Jack Walker reports.

Plus, a new rule issued in the final days of former President Joe Biden’s administration limits toxic dust in mines. It impacts industries like those affiliated with rock and sand quarries.

But here in coal country, the biggest concern is the connection between silica dust and severe, sometimes fatal, cases of black lung disease. As Roxy Todd with Virginia newsroom RadioIQ reports, Republicans have signaled opposition to the new safety rules in the past.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Maria Young produced this episode.

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