西弗吉尼亚州的化学泄露影响仍在

 　　西弗吉尼亚州的化学泄露影响仍在

　　CHARLЕSTON — In the U.S. state of West Virginia, a major chemical spill that contaminated a river supplying water to hundreds of thousands of people is slowly dissipating. Officials say the water restrictions¹ have been lifted in some areas near the state capital of Charleston. But in some rural towns people still cannot drink the local water.

　　In the town of Marmet, which is just south of Charleston, residents line up in the their cars for free bottled water. Schools and most restaurants and businesses remain closed.

　　Marmet's Fire Chief Jerry McGhee says responding to the water emergency has brought out the best in the community.

　　“The fire department and a ton of volunteers, which we really appreciate coming out. The police department, local police department has been here. We had city council personnel with us and just a lot of in-town folks who have chipped in to assist us,” says McGhee.

　　This crisis began when a chemical known as MCHM, used to clean impurities² from coal, leaked from a storage tank owned by a company called Freedom Industries. The chemical got into the Elk³ River, which supplies drinking water to the region. Residents say the contaminated water smells like licorice. Officials warned people not to drink it, or even wash with it.

　　Dustin White with the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition⁴ and other environmental activists⁵ are critical of what they say is the lack of regulation of the powerful chemical and coal industries in West Virginia. But for now they are focusing on the crisis at hand, bringing water to rural areas.

　　“For me and a lot of us, this is where we call home. So any time that our people need any type of help, we try to respond in any way we can to help the people who need it,” says White.

　　Tommy Manns and many local residents say with some help they can survive this crisis.

　　“It's not as bad as what people make it seem, but you know we get by. All the water everybody gives out helps a lot,” says Manns.

　　Officials say it could be several days before the water-use ban is lifted entirely⁶.

1 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

2 impurities   

不纯( impurity的名词复数 )； 不洁； 淫秽； 杂质

参考例句：

• A filter will remove most impurities found in water. 过滤器会滤掉水中的大部分杂质。
• Oil is refined to remove naturally occurring impurities. 油经过提炼去除天然存在的杂质。

3 elk   

n.麋鹿

参考例句：

• I was close enough to the elk to hear its labored breathing.我离那头麋鹿非常近，能听见它吃力的呼吸声。
• The refuge contains the largest wintering population of elk in the world.这座庇护所有着世界上数量最大的冬季麋鹿群。

4 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

5 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。