Martin County Coal Corporation, a subsidiary of Richmond, Virginia-based
A. T. Massey Coal Company, Inc., announced that in the early morning
hours of Wednesday, October 11, a sudden and unexpected underground mine
collapse adjacent to Martin County Coal's refuse impoundment resulted in
the release of a large quantity of water and fine coal refuse into two
local streams, Wolf Creek and Coldwater Fork, near Inez, Kentucky. The
company promptly notified appropriate local, state and federal
officials, who, along with company officials, responded immediately to
the emergency.
Released material flowed from the affected watersheds into the Tug Fork
of the Big Sandy River, and some local communities have closed intakes
to public water supplies. In response to this threat, company and
governmental officials have worked with local water departments to
assure continued water supplies. On Sunday, October 15, the U. S. Corps
of Engineers agreed to increase the flow of water from containment
facilities upstream on the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River. This
action is expected to dilute sediment and relieve the threat to public
water supplies.
The company has been working continuously to contain the released
sediment to the extent possible. Several filter berms have been
constructed in a number of locations to contain the sediment. Vacuum
trucks, excavators and a mobile dredge are being used to remove sediment
from the streams. The company and its insurance carriers have retained
clean up specialists to coordinate containment and remediation efforts.
The company has pollution insurance policies in effect.
Massey Coal Company Inc. is a subsidiary of Fluor Corporation, which is
headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California. Fluor Corporation provides
services on a global basis in the fields of engineering, procurement,
construction, maintenance and operations, project management, coal
production and business services.
Lori Serrato, 949-349-7420, or Keith Karpe, 949-349-7661, both for Martin County Coal Corporation