The West Virginia DEP has
issued an "imminent harm cessation" order, effectively shutting down
the WV3 Mine in the Madison Creek area of Logan County
The mine is owned by Kentucky Fuels, which
is operated by Jim Justice
Neighbors called the DEP after they suspected the coal company was
dumping slurry into the creek. The DEP sent a team of investigators to
the area Sunday and discovered there was, in fact, a problem. The mine
apparently had a pit that was full of water, so the overflow was being pumped
into a sediment ditch. Rainfall over the weekend caused a leak in the
sediment ditch, pushing black water into the creek.
The DEP has ordered the mine to cease all mining operations in
that area and remain shut off until all needed repairs are made to avoid
further leaks of black water into the creek.
No fish kills have been reported as a result of the black water,
and no public drinking water sources have been contaminated.
As of Sunday night, a DEP spokesperson was not aware of any
reports from the mining company about the leak, only a call from a resident
living in the Madison
Creek
