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- Martin County coal slurry spill

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Martin County Environmental Disaster
The Martin County coal sludge spill is a large-scale environmental disaster that occurred on October 11, 2000, in Martin County, Kentucky, USA. The disaster occurred when a coal slurry tank owned by Massey Energy failed, releasing about 306 million gallons (1.2 billion liters) of toxic coal slurry into nearby rivers and waterways. The spill was the worst environmental disaster in Kentucky's history and one of the largest in U.S. history. The sludge contained a mixture of coal dust, water, and chemicals, including heavy metals such as arsenic, mercury, and lead, which can cause serious health problems in humans and wildlife. The disaster brought attention to the dangers of coal mining and the need for better regulations to prevent future spills. Massey Energy was fined $5.3 million by the US Environmental Protection Agency for the spill, but many believe that the fine was not enough to cover the true cost of the damage caused by the disaster.
River Pollution
The spill contaminated the Tug Fork and Big Sandy rivers and several small streams, killing fish and other aquatic life and polluting the water supply for more than 27,000 people. The spill also caused significant damage to homes, property, and farmland in the area. More than 100 miles of streams, creeks, and rivers were affected, despite attempts by federal and state crews to contain the spreading mess. The greatest danger from the spill so far comes from increased turbidity or suspended solids in the water. As the sediment moves, it raises the water level, covers the river banks, and smothers any wildlife in its path. Turbidity also causes problems at wastewater treatment plants as thick water clogs filters. The most damage is to the creek in the area of the original dam collapse. Coal sludge is a challenge for cleanup crews. Unlike an oil spill, where the pollutant floats in the water, the sludge sinks to the bottom of the river.
Heavy Metals
Experts found heavy metals in the sludge, including mercury, lead, arsenic, copper, and chromium. Although long-term effects are unclear, the metals found do not pose a threat to treated drinking water, according to the EPA and the Kentucky Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.
Contamination of drinking water
The Martin County coal slurry spill caused significant contamination of the drinking water in the area. The slurry contained toxic chemicals, including heavy metals such as arsenic, mercury, and lead, which can cause serious health problems if ingested. The spill affected the water supply for over 27,000 people, and many residents reported a change in the taste, smell, and color of their water. The contaminated water also caused skin rashes, nausea, and other health problems for some residents. Within days of the spill, several cities were forced to seek alternative sources of drinking water. Some public schools were closed and residents were ordered to limit their water consumption to essentials only.
Impact on wildlife
Environmental officials called the spill one of the worst environmental disasters to occur in the southeastern United States and said its effects could last for years. The spill strangled fish, snakes, turtles, and other species as waste stuck to the bottom and banks of streams and tributaries of the Big Sandy River, which flows into the Ohio River downstream from Cincinnati. Wildlife in Wolf Creek and Coldwater Fork have been decimated, including an estimated 1.6 million fish.
Gallery
6Timelines
2024
February
Martin County has faced major barriers to clean, reliable water for decades, and problems with its water pumps are contributing to the problem. The project to install a trolley that lifts and lowers the already purchased electric pump began in 2020 and is not yet completed. Alliance Water Resources is an outside management company that was brought in about four years ago to help solve Martin County's water problems. Drawing raw water from a water pump on the Tug Fork River in Martin County is one of the country's water supply problems, according to local advocate Nina McCoy. McCoy wants to see the raw water project completed and done right.
2021
November 11
A federal judge approved a settlement agreement between the US Department of Justice and Alpha Natural Resources (which acquired Massey Energy after the spill) that required the company to pay $50 million in fines and penalties for Clean Water Act violations related to the spill. The settlement was seen as a significant victory for environmental groups and local residents who have been advocating for accountability and justice for the spill's impact.
2020
February 10
The Kentucky Public Service Commission approved a settlement agreement that required Kentucky Power to pay $6 million to help improve the water infrastructure in Martin County. The agreement was in response to ongoing problems with the water supply in the area, which have been linked to the coal slurry spill.
2019
June 15
A report by the environmental group Appalachian Voices highlighted ongoing problems with coal slurry impoundments in the region, including the risk of spills and leaks. The report called for stricter regulations and more oversight of the coal industry to prevent future disasters.
2018
December 05
The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet reported that ongoing monitoring of water in the affected area showed that levels of heavy metals were below regulatory limits. However, some residents have expressed skepticism about the accuracy of the monitoring and remain concerned about the safety of their drinking water.
2016
August 13
Alpha Natural Resources agrees to pay $15 million to settle a lawsuit brought by Kentucky residents affected by the spill.
2010
January 29
Massey Energy is acquired by Alpha Natural Resources.
2004
March 17
A study by the University of Kentucky finds that the water in the affected rivers and creeks still contains elevated levels of heavy metals.
2003
December 02
A federal judge approves a settlement between Massey Energy and the citizens' group, requiring the company to pay $50 million in damages.
2002
December 11
The EPA reaches a settlement with Massey Energy, requiring the company to spend $2.4 million on environmental projects in the Martin County area.
September 01
In September 2002, Massey's PAC gave $100,000 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which Sen. Mitch McConnell had previously chaired. Overall, McConnell has been one of the top recipients of Massey-related contributions, collecting $13,550 from Massey-connected contributors.
July 01
Martin County Coal agreed in the summer of 2002 to pay $3.25 million in penalties and damages to Kentucky, the largest mining-related fine in the state's history. Massey Energy says it has spent over $40 million in cleanup costs. But Massey CEO Don Blankenship also announced during a conference call with investment bankers on July 31, 2003, that the company had just won a $21 million insurance settlement for property damage and business interruptions that resulted from the October 2000 slurry spill.
January 01
In 2002, MSHA issued its investigative report on the accident and found that the company failed, in constructing the impoundment, to spread a layer of fine coal slurry around the perimeter to create a barrier against water seepage. MSHA assessed Martin County Coal Co. $110,000 in civil penalties, the legal maximum, and no criminal penalties. Massey Energy appealed the citations; one was removed. The only federal violation Massey was cited with was for failing to properly notify MSHA about changes in water flow from the impoundment; fine: $55,000.
2000
October 11
The Martin County Sludge Spill occurred after midnight on October 11, 2000 when the bottom of a coal sludge impoundment owned by Massey Energy in Martin County, Kentucky, broke into an abandoned underground mine below. The slurry came out of the mine openings, sending an estimated 306 million gallons (1.16 billion liters) of sludge down two tributaries of the Tug Fork River. By morning, Wolf Creek was oozing with the black waste; on Coldwater Fork, a ten-foot (3 m) wide stream became a 100-yard (91 m) expanse of thick sludge.