On Friday July 15, 2011, at the Jim Walter Mine North River Steam Coal Mine in Fayette County, Alabama, a sensor failed to shut off the coal slurry pumping system for an estimated four hours, resulting in toxic waste being discharged into Freeman Creek. The creek flows into North River and on downstream to Lake Tuscaloosa and into the drinking water supply for the City of Tuscaloosa.
Here's a picture of how the water in the *North River usually appears:
Here's a picture of how the water in the *North River usually appears:
Here's how it looks *post spill:
The Alabama Surface Mining Commission's (ASMC) Randy Jackson is assuring viewers that the "sediment will not be harmful" and "it will wind up in Lake Tuscaloosa and settle out there." It should be noted that neither Mr. Jackson or anyone else at the ASMC have any authority over water issues. They're not experts, but they'll try and portray themselves as them on TV.
ADEM's spokesman Scott Hughes says he notified the Tuscaloosa Water Department to "monitor its water" and says "the water is safe to drink."
Dennis Hall, JW North Mine spokesman is quoted as saying this about the spill: "It's like it rained and piles of mud slid into the water."
Everybody involved is attempting to downplay the spill as nothing to be concerned about.
They're dead wrong and what we should worry about is why they want to mislead us about the dangers of what is really in that 'harmless' slurry:
Below is a list of chemicals found in coal slurry and sludge:
Aniline Acenaphthene Acenapthylene Anthracene Benzidine Benzo(a)anthracene Benzo(a)pyrene Benzo(b)fluoranthene Benzo(ghi)perylene Benzo(k)fluoroanthene Benzyl alcohol bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate bis(2-chloroethoxy)-methane bis(2-chloroethyl)ether bis(2-chloroisopropyl)ether Butyl benzyl phthalate Chrysene Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene | Dibenzofuran Dibutyl phtalate Diethyl phthalate Dimethyl phthalate Dioctylphthalate Fluoranthene Fluorene Hexachlorobenzene Hexachloroethane Indeno(1,2,3-c,d)pyrene Isophorone N-Nitrosodi-n-propylamine N-Nitrosodiphenylamine Naphthalene Nitrobenzene Phenanthrene Pyrene | Acrilamide Hexachloro-1,3-Butadiene Hexa-Cl-1,3-Cyclopentadiene 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene 1,2-Dichlorobenzene 1,3-Dichlorobenzene 1,4-Dichlorobenzene 2,4-Dinitrotoluene 2,6-Dinitrotoluene 2-Chloronaphtalene 2-Methylnapthalene |2-Nitroaniline 3-3'-Dichlorobenzidine 3-Nitroaniline 4-Bromophenyl phenyl ether 4-Chloroaniline 4-Chhlorophenyl phenyl ether 4-Nitroaniline |
Specific Elements and Compounds
Source: Kentucky Division of Water. DOW-DES Analytical Data File.
Electronic File: Martin Co.Coal.Co.Slurry Release Data.xls
Source: Kentucky Division of Water. DOW-DES Analytical Data File.
Electronic File: Martin Co.Coal.Co.Slurry Release Data.xls
Jim Walter Resources (aka Walter Energy) is not a small company bringing in peanuts for profit. In the first quarter of 2011, the company brought in higher than 2010 profits of $408.7 million. It's a hugely successful company with money to burn who springs generously for some hay bales, a few truckloads of gravel and near-site pumping to mediate their spill of 'no consequence' in Fayette County.
We would like to ask ABC 33/40 why they did not check out these claims of 'no big deal' before they ran their story on the incident. By not doing that, what we're left with is propaganda and half-truths, and even more reasons to view Walter Energy as an extensively problematic operation in Alabama.
Shame on all of them.
*Photo credits Tuscaloosa News and: psellers
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The efforts to contain the slurry look like amateur hour at best, and a business that doesn't give a damn at worst. They know better. Where was ADEM? Hands off because it was a coal mine and under ASMC control?
ReplyDeleteWell if this does not give creedance to Black Warrior opposing the Drummond Coal operation that wants to lease land from the University of Alabama I don't know what does. They always say, don't worry we will follow all enviornmental regualtions - Bull!
ReplyDeleteRaise your hand if you think Walter is and will be a big contributor to the cesspool of corruption known as our goober politics?
ReplyDeleteThey're already getting away with murder in Birmingham so who's surprised this is no big deal event?
Sonsofbi*#hes! No excuse for this.
ReplyDeleteAccording to MSHA 25 citations at this mine since 5/6/2011 when Walter took it over.
ReplyDeleteAt least they are consistently in violation if nothing else.
http://www.msha.gov/drs/ASP/MineAction.asp
Come on ABC catch up with CBS.
ReplyDeleteIt will never happen. CBS is stomping the competition on these kinds of issues and on Walter Energy tails with a vengeance.
ReplyDeleteGo get 'em 42!
CHOMP CHOMP
Lazy reporting and more lies from the state. I found this in no time flat:
ReplyDelete"Components in slurry come from the coal and the chemicals used in processing it.
The washing or purifying process reduces pollution-causing contaminants in the coal, but these impurities then become part of the slurry.
The composition of coal slurry varies depending on the coal and the processing methods. Waste products from coal mining and preparation contain potentially toxic organic and inorganic compounds, sulfates, ammonium and heavy metals.
Alternative methods of processing, including dry processing techniques, could reduce the quantity of coal slurry generated."
Is this the best media can do because if it is we have some real goofs acting like they are informing us.
The media for the most part is complacent in the cover up and disinformation campaign.
ReplyDeleteI understand dilution is the solution to pollution but my concern is the river.......not so much the lake. It's a sensitive eco-system and has some endangered species also.....all this crap in the water is causing fish to have to surface to get oxygen....too early to tell the long term effects. Why didn't they have a backup system........why did it take 4 days to mobilize crews to stack hay bales across the river.... Truth is they wouldn't have done anything if it had not made the news. That pic above is the perfect representation of what this river is supposed to look like. Now it looks like toxic soup.
ReplyDeleteAnon is right. I went over there with some friends and it's awful. The video doesn't begin to show how bad it is. I would like to see some more pictures and video come out on the real story. ABC 33/40 drooped the ball big-time.
ReplyDeleteJust run of the mill plain old mud huh?
ReplyDeleteThat doesn't look like any mud I have ever seen after a big rain. That looks more like a nasty black oil spill than mud.