Agencies Plan Safety Review of W. Va. Mine Impoundments

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The state Department of Environmental Protection said it is launching a broad review of West Virginia’s 250 or so underground coal mines after one operation mined beyond its permit and – perhaps – inside the safety zone of a waste impoundment.

While such incursions happen rarely, the agency wants to make sure other mines haven’t done the same, DEP spokeswoman Jessica Greathouse said. “That’s why we have undertaken this review and want it done in 30 days.”

The review, which will be conducted with the state Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training, will cover all underground mines near an impoundment. That encompasses most underground mines, Greathouse said.

Mining into an impoundment safety zone is a violation of surface mining and safety laws. It also can weaken an impoundment, Greathouse said.

So far, the state hasn’t issued any citations to the pair of mining companies that prompted the review, Greathouse said. They have, however, been ordered to stop mining operations near the impoundment.

“All the agencies agree there’s no dangers,” said Tom Lusk, chief operating officer of Bluestone Industries, the parent company of both Bluestone Coal Co., which holds the permit, and Double-Bonus Coal Co., which operates Bluestone’s Mine No. 65 in Wyoming County.

“It’s an unfortunate event, certainly accidental and, fortunately in this case, it’s not a big deal,” Lusk said.

He said Bluestone will fix the problem.

Mining in the area has been shut down and part of Bluestone’s permit dealing with that area has been suspended, DEP said. The agency also is reviewing Bluestone’s permit for the mine and trying to determine whether any violations of state law occurred.

Separately, the company has been ordered to submit certified maps of the mine to the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration, which discovered the problem Monday, DEP said. The maps are supposed to accurately show the mine’s proximity to the impoundment, DEP said.

Pinnacle Mining Co., which owns the impoundment, has been told to update its assessment of hazards and take remedial action, DEP said.

“We don’t believe that the mining took place under the impoundment, but we do know that it’s gotten close,” Greathouse said.

DEP also has taken action against a permit supervisor who didn’t follow proper procedure by getting an engineer to review the permit revision allowing mining in the area was approved, Greathouse said. She declined to comment further on the personnel action.