The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

December 10, 2005

Slurry spill reported at Marfork plant

By Michelle James

A booster pump that pushes coal slurry into the Brushy Fork impoundment at Massey Energy’s Marfork Coal Co. preparation plant failed Saturday morning, dumping close to 10,000 gallons of black sludge into a stream, the state Department of Environmental Protection said.

DEP chief communications officer Jessica Greathouse said the spill affected a 5-mile area and traveled from Little Marsh Fork Creek into Marsh Fork and into Coal River.

Greathouse said the DEP issued an imminent harm cessation order, forcing Massy to close the preparation plant until the pump was fixed and the slurry cleaned.

The DEP learned of the spill following a phone call placed to the agency’s emergency tip line, Greathouse said.

Matt Noerpel of Coal River Mountain Watch said the group placed the call to the DEP after learning of the spill about 11 a.m. Saturday.

Greathouse said once the slurry has been cleaned, the cessation order will turn into violation, although she says any penalties Massey may face are unknown at this time.

DEP officials will revisit the scene today to check on the clean-up progress, Greathouse said.

— E-mail: mjames@register-herald.com

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