Coal Waste Regulation Needs Stepped Up
Morgantown Dominion Post
15 March 2010
To the Editor
Gov. Joe Manchin recently highlighted some beneficial uses of coal
combustion waste (CCW) — but there is another side to the story.
CCW contains concentrated levels of toxic materials. Using CCW in
cement or road surfaces — where the toxic material may be stabilized
and isolated — is far less dangerous than dumping millions of tons of
CCW over thousands of acres of surface-mined land, with no protection
for local watersheds and property owners — a common practice in
northcentral West Virginia (Monongalia, Preston and Marion counties).
Field studies have documented lead, selenium, arsenic, mercury,
thallium and acid mine drainage leaching from CCW disposal sites into
waterways.
These studies also show elevated sulfates and total dissolved solids in
CCWaffected waterways, which increase treatment costs for municipal
drinking water supplies and for power plants’ cooling water — and kills
aquatic life.
Inhalation of airborne CCW dust by citizens living near surface mine
CCW disposal sites could lead to serious respiratory diseases, such as
chronic bronchitis, silicosis and cancer.
The amount of CCW being dumped on north-central West Virginia mine
sites far exceeds amounts that could be considered “beneficial use.”
Scientific evidence of any long-term benefits from the disposal of
10,000 tons/acre of CCW on these surface mines is nonexistent.
There is inconsistency among states regarding the use, oversight and
regulatory control of CWW disposal in mines.
Some states consider it to be waste disposal.
Others, like West Virginia, have a lax attitude that does not protect
watersheds and local property owners. The regulation of CCW being
recommended by the federal Environmental Protection Agency would
provide consistent rules that help prevent harm to our land, water,
health and property values from the hazardous disposal of CCW on large
areas of land.
Petra and John Wood
Cassville