• Coal slurry consists of water, coal particles and chemicals used in the coal-cleaning process. Slurry may be disposed of by injecting it into abandoned mines.
• Since the year 2000, the West Virginia DEP Underground Injection Control Program has permitted more than 400 injections into underground mines across the state.
• Over half a million West Virginians rely on their wells for drinking and bathing.
• Slurry injected underground has the potential to move into drinking water aquifers; and blasting from mining activity could fracture rock strata, creating more pathways for slurry to flow underground into household water supplies.
• WV DEP has recorded calls from coalfield residents across the state with reports of black or orange water with a greasy texture.
• Alternative dry cleaning and storage methods exist and do a better job of keeping toxins out of drinking water supplies.

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