West Virginia's Congressional Delegation has written a letter to President Obama requesting for him to reconsider a major disaster declaration following the chemical spill on January 9.

The President granted an emergency disaster on January 10, following the spill.

FEMA denied Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin's request for reimbursement for first responders, nonprofits and public agencies that assisted during the spill on February 12. FEMA said it determined additional assistance wasn't warranted because certain costs associated with response and recovery efforts weren't beyond the state and local governments' response and recovery capabilities.

Tomblin appealed that decision on March 1. In the letter, the delegation, including US Senators Joe Manchin and Jay Rockefeller, along with Representatives Nick Rahall, Shelley Moore Capito and David McKinley, said they support Tomblin's request for a disaster declaration.

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