CONSOL Agreement Nearly Done

Water pollution killed fish in 2009

Morgantown Dominion Post
20 February 2011
By Alex Lang

CONSOL, the U.S. Department of Justice and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are finalizing a settlement regarding Dunkard Creek water pollution that resulted in a massive fish kill.

In September 2009, most of the marine life was killed in part of Dunkard Creek, near Blacksville.

The investigation turned toward a toxin released after a golden algae bloomed. The algae bloomed because of elevated Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in the stream.

The investigation focused on increased TDS because of discharge from the CONSOL-owned Blacksville No. 2 mine.

After the fish began dying, CONSOL voluntarily stopped discharging wastewater into the stream. In December 2009, the company was allowed to resume, with restrictions on when and how much it could discharge, depending on the stream’s water quality.

In April 2010, CONSOL submitted plans showing how it was going to treat the discharge, which included building a treatment facility.

Kevin Coyne, with the DEP’s Department of Water and Waste Management, told The Dominion Post about the possible settlement.He said it would be posted for comment once it is finalized.

When contacted for further details, DEP spokeswoman Kathy Cosco declined to comment and provided a statement that said:

“The DEP has been working with Environmental Protection Agency for quite some time on an enforcement action related to water pollution issues at multiple facilities. That work has not been finalized, therefore it is premature to say anything else at this time.”

CONSOL senior VP environmental strategy and regulatory affairs representative Katharine Fredriksen said she couldn’t discuss details because of a confidentiality agreement.

Department of Justice spokesman Wyn Hornbuckle said he can’t discuss any potential settlement with any agency.