West Virginia DEP Seeks Advice from EPA on CONSOL Order

The DEP is considering allowing the Blacksville No. 2 mine to discharge into Dunkard Creek.

WBOY-TV, Clarksburg, WV
15 December  2009
Story by Jessika Lewis

MORGANTOWN -- The West Virginia Department of Environmental protection has issued an order that would allow CONSOL to once again discharge water from the Blacksville No. 2 mine into Dunkard Creek.

DEP officials have written the order, but are still waiting to get input from the Environmental Protection Agency, said Kathy Cosco, DEP spokeswoman.

The DEP has worked with the EPA throughout the course of the investigation into the fish kill that occurred in the creek at the beginning of September, and wants to make sure that both agencies are on the same page, according to Cosco.

What happens if the EPA disagrees with the order?

“It’s likely we would make adjustments because this is something that we want to make sure everyone is on board with,” Cosco stated.

CONSOL asked that the DEP allow them to discharge from the mine, because the company was concerned that water backing up in the mine could be dangerous for miners working there, according to Joe Cerenzia, director of public relations for CONSOL.

The backup is reaching a critical stage, said Cerenzia, and CONSOL is hoping the matter will be resolved quickly.

Although CONSOL is not legally required to seek the DEP’s approval to discharge, Cerenzia said they want to be sure they keep a good relationship with the agency.

In mid-September, CONSOL voluntarily stopped discharging from the mine, as environmental agencies began to investigate what was killing the fish and other wildlife in the creek.

Reports have pointed to the mine as the source for heightened levels of total dissolved solids (TDS) in the water, which is believed to have been the source for the growth of golden algae in the waterway.

The algae release a toxin that is harmful to gill-breathing organisms.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is looking into the criminal aspect of the fish kill, and said it cannot comment on the matter because it is still under investigation.