Today the Sludge Safety Project and concerned citizens held a press conference at the Charleston Field Office of the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) to demand the data from a critical OSM study on the compaction of coal waste dams. Over a dozen community leaders and activists came out to voice their deep concerns about dam safety and demand agency transparency and an immediate moratorium on impoundment expansions.
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Updates
Thu, 2013-04-25 17:52
Wed, 2013-01-16 19:21
Yesterday, the Charleston Office of Surface Mining released its long-awaited, final report on the potential of sludge impoundments to "break through" into underground mines beneath them. (Read it here.) This type of impoundment failure cause the disastrous spill in Martin County, Ky in 2000 and several other sludge spills. Since the Martin County disaster, the OSM has been studying "bottom failure" and issuing recommendations. Despite new rules issu
Mon, 2012-12-03 18:07
Last Friday brought more terrible news to the West Virginia coalfields. A massive collapse at Consol's Nolans Run Impoundment in Harrison County just west of Shinnston had sent 2 engineers to the hospital and a bulldozer operator to the bottom of the slurry pond. As of writing, the body of the dozer operated had not yet been recovered despite efforts to drain the impoundment and several attempts to send divers. Recovery operations are in full swing and Ken Ward of the Charleston Gazette is posting updates from MSHA
Fri, 2012-07-13 10:39
Congratulations to the folks in the Seth-Prenter area who just settled their water pollution case against Alpha Natural Resources. Over 350 residents sued at the end of 2008, alleging their health had been damaged by wellwater contamination caused by slurry injection and irresponsible mining practices. After many failed attempts at mediation, a deal was reached just days before jury selection was set to begin.
Wed, 2012-04-11 19:26
On March 2nd, the Sludge Safety Project had an event, Remembering 40 Years of Black Water: From Buffalo Creek to Today, at the West Virginia State Capitol to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Buffalo Creek Disaster and all victims of coal slurry. Despite stormy weather, over 40 West Virginians and allies gathered to remember and learn about the Buffalo Creek disaster, listen to personal stories of folks impacted by coal slurry, and hear wonderful music from Paige Dalporto, Michael and Carrie Kline, and Miranda Brown.
Sat, 2012-02-25 20:30
The people of Buffalo Creek are holding a community memorial event for the victims of the Buffalo Creek disaster on Saturday, February 25. To respect their event, the Sludge Safety Project has moved the date of our event.
Remembering 40 Years of Black Water: From Buffalo Creek to Today
Tue, 2012-02-14 20:05
Residents, community activists and independent scientists are outraged at the conclusions presented in the WV DEP’s recently released study on well water contamination in Prenter, WV. Despite overwhelming evidence documenting contaminated water in numerous homes and reports from independent scientists showing toxic levels of heavy metals, the WV DEP has declared Prenter’s water conclusively safe to drink. This study, which has serious implications for Prenter’s residents, has proven to display a blatant disregard for accuracy, inappropriate methods, and a lack of regard for the health and well being of West Virginia residents. Additionally, findings are contrary to those of numerous independent scientists who have concluded that the water in the Prenter area is not only contaminated, but that the mining activity of Massey Energy, now Alpha Natural Resources, has directly lead to the contamination of drinking water in Prenter.
