Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
K&N Contracting Inc. has been doing gas line-related work along a mountainside above Baisden, W.Va., which has had to be paused at times because of stormwater runoff sediment from areas of the earth that were "disturbed" by heavy rainfall that impacted a cemetery.
A homeowner on the other side of the mountain from that cemetery showed WCHS-TV that their water is continuing to run brown from all of their faucets and said it didn't run brown before K&N started work on the mountain.
Some property owners in the area have said that they've been promised compensation to fix damage from the alterations to the earth. Baisden resident Tyler New said some community members are worried about possible permanent changes to the way water runs off in their community after K&N is done.
"The drain pipes that they've put in back there that has caused all these, these artificial water diversions, after they get done working I'm concerned that if it don't come off by then, when it does come off, and they are gone from there, I'm concerned who will be left responsible for that," New said.
The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection issued a statement Tuesday on the situation:
"The pipeline project is registered under a WVDEP stormwater construction general permit for oil and gas activities, which requires projects to control stormwater runoff and sediment from leaving disturbed areas," the statement said. "Recent heavy rainfall resulted in sediment from the project impacting the nearby cemetery.
Following the incident, WVDEP Environmental Enforcement staff were onsite immediately and worked with the responsible party to address any non-compliance," the statement continued. "Work in the affected area was stopped while the permittee evaluated and improved sediment and erosion controls, and the impacted area has been addressed."
The WVDEP said corrective action may require a pause on work in the area.
"Ultimately, the permittee is responsible for maintaining adequate stormwater and sediment controls and ensuring the project remains in compliance with its state-issued environmental permits," the statement said. "Corrective action may require stopping work in an affected area while an issue is addressed, but it does not necessarily require all work on the project to cease."
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K&N Contracting Inc. has been doing gas line-related work along a mountainside above Baisden, W.Va., which has had to be paused at times because of stormwater runoff sediment from areas of the earth that were "disturbed" by heavy rainfall that impacted a cemetery.
A homeowner on the other side of the mountain from that cemetery showed WCHS-TV that their water is continuing to run brown from all of their faucets and said it didn't run brown before K&N started work on the mountain.
Some property owners in the area have said that they've been promised compensation to fix damage from the alterations to the earth. Baisden resident Tyler New said some community members are worried about possible permanent changes to the way water runs off in their community after K&N is done.
"The drain pipes that they've put in back there that has caused all these, these artificial water diversions, after they get done working I'm concerned that if it don't come off by then, when it does come off, and they are gone from there, I'm concerned who will be left responsible for that," New said.
The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection issued a statement Tuesday on the situation:
"The pipeline project is registered under a WVDEP stormwater construction general permit for oil and gas activities, which requires projects to control stormwater runoff and sediment from leaving disturbed areas," the statement said. "Recent heavy rainfall resulted in sediment from the project impacting the nearby cemetery.
Following the incident, WVDEP Environmental Enforcement staff were onsite immediately and worked with the responsible party to address any non-compliance," the statement continued. "Work in the affected area was stopped while the permittee evaluated and improved sediment and erosion controls, and the impacted area has been addressed."
The WVDEP said corrective action may require a pause on work in the area.
"Ultimately, the permittee is responsible for maintaining adequate stormwater and sediment controls and ensuring the project remains in compliance with its state-issued environmental permits," the statement said. "Corrective action may require stopping work in an affected area while an issue is addressed, but it does not necessarily require all work on the project to cease."
_________________________________________
Follow WCHS on social media:
Facebook: facebook.com/eyewitnessnewscharleston
Twitter: twitter.com/wchs8fox11
Instagram: instagram.com/wchs8fox11
For the latest local and national news, visit our website: wchstv.com
Sign up for our newsletter: wchstv.com/sign-up
