Coal Impoundment Location and Warning System

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• Coal Impoundment Location and Warning System
• www.coalimpoundment.org
• The Coal Impoundment Location and Warning System
  is a pilot project developed by the
• Robert C. Byrd National Technology Transfer
  Center
• Wheeling Jesuit University
• Center for Educational Technologies at Wheeling
  Jesuit
• West Virginia University
• National Energy Technology Laboratory

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DANGER
Breaks in coal slurry impoundments can

• Send millions of gallons of water and material
  downstream.

• Threaten the lives and health of area residents.

• Destroy homes and businesses.

• Contaminate water supplies.

This dangerous potential looms over coal mining
regions in West Virginia and throughout
Appalachia.
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Source Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition
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DEADLY CONSEQUENCES

• 1972 Buffalo Creek hollow failure in Logan
  County, WV.
• 125 people were killed.
• More than 1,000 were injured.
• About 4,000 were left homeless.
• At least nine major spills in the Appalachian
  coalfields since this deadly spill,
  including the Martin County spill.

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AS A RESULT

• 2002 National Research Council study entitled,
  Coal Waste Impoundment Risk, Responses and
  Alternative.
• Coal Impoundment Location and Warning System
  made possible.

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A KEY RESOURCE

• Coal Impoundment Project designed to
• Identify coal impoundments in West Virginia.
• Alert residents of emergency situations and
  related evacuation plans.
• Improve safety and examine alternatives for
  impounding coal waste and sludge in the Mountain
  State.

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Source Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition
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ACCURATE INFORMATION IS THE GOAL
Each company is required to file an emergency
evacuation plan and escape routes. If information
about your location is inaccurate or incomplete,
let us know.
www.coalimpoundment.org
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WHO TO CALLWHERE TO GO
Detailed emergency information is available on
impoundments

• Phone numbers

• Detailed description of what to do in an
  emergency

• Actions and responsibilities of first responders
  in case of evacuation

• Detailed interactive maps

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TECHNOLOGY
The Coal Impoundment Location and Warning System
is also focused on reducing the number of
existing impoundments by finding technologies
that could lessen or alleviate the need for
impoundments.

• Storage Alternatives
• Dry Coal Cleaning Methods
• Remediation/Waste Utilization

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FROM SENATOR BYRD
"It is my hope that this pilot project will lead
to innovative ways to reduce the risks for
communities near these sites and for individuals
who live there."
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PROJECT CONTRIBUTORS

• Mine Safety and Health Administration
  Peabody Energy
• West Virginia Department of Environmental
  Protection Ohio Valley Environmental
  Coalition
• West Virginia Geological and Economic
  Survey Verizon
• West Virginia Highlands Conservancy
  Kentucky Dept. of Mines and Minerals
• Pennsylvania Bureau of Deep Mine Safety
  Raleigh County 9-1-1
• Massey Energy Company Coal River
  Mountain Watch
• WV Office of Miners Health Safety and
  Training Office of Surface Mining
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric
  Administration Consol Energy
• Virginia Dept. of Mines, Minerals and
  Energy

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ASK YOURSELF
Do you know if you live near a coal impoundment?
Do you know where to go or whom to call if the
impoundment fails?
To find out, visit www.coalimpoundment.org