Consol to Resume Dunkard Creek Pumping

Washington PA Observer-Reporter
8 January 2010
By Bob Niedbala, Staff writer
niedbala@observer-reporter.com

Consol Energy Inc. was making preparations Thursday to resume pumping water from its Blacksville No. 2 Mine into Dunkard Creek, an action it halted mid-September during a massive fish kill on the creek.

The company was testing monitoring equipment and could begin pumping late Thursday, today or as late as next week, said Joe Cerenzia, Consol spokesman.

"What we're doing now is testing the monitoring devices in the stream that have been put in to make sure the (water quality) standards are met," Cerenzia said.

An order granted by West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection last month allows the company to resume pumping water from the mine if certain conditions exist and with monitoring to ensure compliance.

"We're not exactly sure when (pumping) is going to start," Cerenzia said. "But it won't begin until we're confident the monitoring equipment is functioning correctly."

Consol voluntarily halted the mine water discharge Sept. 17 during an investigation by state and federal environmental agencies of a fish kill that eventually spanned a 43-mile section of the creek.

The kill was caused by a bloom of golden algae, an organism not common to this area but found mainly in salty water or water high in total dissolved solids. Agencies agree conditions for the algae to thrive were created by high levels of total dissolved solids in the creek from mine water discharges.

High levels of total dissolved solids and chlorides were found in the Blacksville No. 2 discharge.

Consol earlier sought approval from W.Va. DEP to resume pumping water from the mine to protect the safety of the mine's work force.

The agency approved a plan allowing Consol to discharge mine water for the short term, until April 30, under certain conditions.

The order requires the company to reduce chloride discharge levels as creek water temperatures warm to reduce the chances of another algae bloom. The probability for a bloom increases when water temperatures rise above 50 degrees, the agency said.

The order also calls for monitoring of chloride and conductivity at the discharge point and downstream.

Under the approved plan, Consol expects to be able to lower the mine pool to a level that creates storage capacity in the mine that can be used to manage discharges during the high temperature months.

Consol also is proceeding with plans to manage and treat the discharge for the long term as required by the order, Cerenzia said.

The company must present a plan to temporarily treat the Blacksville discharge by February. The temporary system, which could involve a modular unit, will treat the water during warmer temperatures if underground storage proves inadequate, Cerenzia said.

The company also is developing plans to treat its mine discharges on the creek on a permanent basis, Cerenzia said. The company must submit a plan to construct a treatment plant by mid-April. The plant must be completed by May 2013.

A spokesman for W.Va. DEP could not be reached Thursday for comment. Helen Humphreys of Pennsylvania DEP said the agency is aware pumping will resume into the creek and continues to monitor the situation.