4/28/2003

A Change in Surface Mining is on the Horizon

Staff
Charleston

The director of the federal Office of Surface Mining tells Metronews he plans to approve a change in the end-dumping mining method in West Virginia.

End dumping is the process that occurs when surface mining takes place, and what is not coal is dumped into a nearby valley, from the top down. West Virginia has had end dumping for years, but now the state legislature has approved a change in hopes of preventing future floods caused by run off.

Federal OSM Director Jeff Jarrett says the federal law allows the end dump method, but he has no problems with the new plan. Jarrett says fills would start off being constructed from the bottom-up and then some end-dumping would be permitted.

Jarrett sees the plan has a good compromise between state regulators and the coal industry. He says he expects his office to approve the method.

Jarrett says state regulators have not sacrificed anything by allowing some end-dumping. He believes this will improve the water flow situation at mining sites.

The state Flood Study Task Force made the recommendation for a change in valley fill construction after determining runoff from mining sites was a factor in major floods in West Virginia the last two years.