This news story originally provided by The Lexington Herald-Leader

July 31, 2005

Coal companies cited for black water spills

Associated Press

PIKEVILLE, Ky. - Two eastern Kentucky coal companies face fines as a result of black water spills that fouled streams in rural Pike County.

The Kentucky Division of Water issued citations to Sidney Coal Co. and to Long Fork Mining Co. for allowing the black water from coal processing plants to escape into streams, said Maleva Chamberlain, spokeswoman for the state agency. Both companies are subsidiaries of Massey Energy of Richmond, Va.

Chamberlain said the Sidney Coal black water spill, which occurred on July 12, killed fish along a three-mile stretch of Big Creek. The company was charged with failing to report the spill, degrading the stream, creating an environmental emergency and violating its state-issued pollution discharge permit.

Chamberlain said the citations issued to Long Fork Mining were for spills that occurred on Feb. 28, June 29 and July 7 into Long Fork, a tributary of Big Creek. That company was charged with failing to report the spill, degrading the stream and violating its pollution discharge permit.

The state has been cracking down on coal companies involved in black water spills and issuing news releases when citations are issued. Chamberlain said that may lead to a false conclusion that such spills are occurring more often. She said they're no more frequent than in years past.

Black water spills, she said, often are the result of dam breaks or overflows, usually after heavy rains in the coal fields.