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The DEP said operator error appeared to be the cause of the 40,000-gallon discharge at the White Mountain Mine near Josephine.
By Steve Ring
The state Department of Environmental Protection said 40,000 gallons of coal sludge spilled into a Raleigh County stream.
It happened late Wednesday afternoon at the White Mountain Mine near Josephine.
The coal sludge ended up in Pines Branch of Stone Coal of the Guyandotte River.
A DEP spokeswoman said it appears to be a case of operator error.
The DEP said a worker at White Mountain Mine was cleaning out a sediment pond. The line was severed, and the sludge went into the stream.
Right now, White Mountain Mine is closed, and the DEP said the mine won't reopen until the line is fixed and cleanup is under way.
People who live nearby say they are worried about pets and wildlife that drink from the stream.
Inspectors won't know until Thursday morning whether the spill affected any fish.
The DEP said there's no public water supply nearby.
Officials for the White Mountain Mine were not available for comment. |
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