*Updated pictures of spill entering Lake Tuscaloosa BWRK July 28, 2011
CBS 42 continues their out-in-front of the pack environmental coverage of Walter Energy (WE) this time it's Fayette County and not north Birmingham.
The initial water testing results of the North River following WE's Jim Walter North River Steam Mine coal slurry spill are in, and as predicted, they aren't good.
CBS 42 continues their out-in-front of the pack environmental coverage of Walter Energy (WE) this time it's Fayette County and not north Birmingham.
The initial water testing results of the North River following WE's Jim Walter North River Steam Mine coal slurry spill are in, and as predicted, they aren't good.
The effects of the slurry spill don't resemble a benign event like the one described by Jim Walter spokesman Dennis Hall as nothing more serious than "mud and rocks after a heavy rain." Something much more ominous is revealed through this testing and raising suspicions of deliberate attempts to downplay the event.
---Levels of increased arsenic are being detected anywhere from a minimum of 3X to as high as 34X the limit of EPA levels
---Lead levels are coming at 3X EPA limits
---Suspension of solids are registering at 4-5X EPA limits
---Turbidity is running at 8-12X higher than the water quality range limit
Black Warrior Riverkeeper is conducting additional testing and will release their results soon. ASMC's Randall Johnson seems to be laying the groundwork for other direction finger-pointing by claiming that the elevated levels of toxins and pollutants are above and below the area of the spill. Maybe someone should remind him of the drifting nature of water columns.
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Does anyone else think it's odd that the only ADEM person we're hearing from is the spokesman and not anyone in the water division? Why is the ASMC running interference on water quality?
ReplyDeleteASMC is saying that elevated levels are not in the area of the spill, so what else could be causing the arsenic and lead spikes?
This whole deal reeks.
Kudos to CBS for following up on it and the biggest thanks to Black Warrior Riverkeeper for keeping the heat on Walter Energy.
ReplyDeleteThe state isn't going to tell anyone the truth about how bad the spill was and is.
They wouldn't be lying to us would they?
ReplyDeleteThis is not comforting news, but I am glad it's out.