W.Va. Weighs In on Fish Kill
Washington, PA Observer-Reporter
3 October 2009
By Bob Niedbala, Staff writer
niedbala@observer-reporter.com
West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection said Friday recent
water samples reinforced its determination that golden algae led to the
fish kill on Dunkard Creek.
The agency said last week it believes an algae not common to the area
but normally found in coastal waters with high levels of salt or
minerals was responsible for the fish kill.
The algae growth was believed to have been fueled by conditions in the
creek, including low water levels, high water temperatures and high
levels of total dissolved solids and chlorides from coal mine
discharges, W.Va. DEP said.
The agency said Friday that water samples taken Sept. 24 reconfirmed
the presence of golden algae in amounts known to have caused fish kills
in other states and countries.
As reported in scientific literature, the golden algae and the toxins
it produces are influenced by factors including the water's pH,
temperature, salinity and nutrients, W.Va. DEP said in a news release
issued Friday.
"We have learned volumes about these algae in a relatively short period
of time" said Scott Mandirola, director of W.Va. DEP's Division of
Water and Waste Management.
"My staff has been in contact with researchers in Texas, North
Carolina, Wisconsin, Tennessee and Oklahoma. We are grateful for these
people taking their time to help us understand and test for this
algae," he said.
W.Va. DEP said it also has shared its information with Consol Energy,
whose Blacksville No. 2 Mine discharge has been determined to be a
source of high levels of total dissolved solids and chloride in the
creek.
Consol scientists also confirmed the presence of golden algae in the
creek, W.Va. DEP said.
Agencies investigating the fish kill also have considered as a possible
source of high levels of chloride a coal bed methane brine disposal
well at the Morris Run shaft of Consol's former Blacksville No. 1 Mine.
W.Va. DEP said Consol has agreed to stop injecting coal bed methane gas
wastewater into Blacksville No. 1. Halting this discharge could
determine what impact that operation may have had on elevated
discharges from the company's Blacksville No. 2 Mine, W.Va. DEP said.
W.Va. DEP officials also met this week with their counterparts in
Pennsylvania, according to Helen Humphreys, spokeswoman for the
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
Humphreys said Friday that her agency continues to question the cause.
"We have not been provided with sufficient information to conclude it
was golden algae," she said. "We aren't contradicting it, we just
haven't seen enough information to come to the same conclusion."
Humphreys noted experts may have to make the determination especially
in this case in which an algae not common to the area may be involved.
Pa. DEP does know, however, that this particular algae needs "brackish
water," high in chlorides, to thrive and that the discharge from the
Blacksville No. 2 Mine helped create that environment, Humphreys said.
W.Va. DEP has been aware since at least 2004 that chloride levels from
Blacksville No. 2 exceeded federal stream water quality standards. The
company is under a compliance order to reduce those levels by 2013.
W.Va. DEP has said, however, it believes chloride levels are not the
sole cause of the fish kill.
Some test results are still pending including analysis of fish liver,
gills and kidney for the toxins expected to be produced by the algae,
W.Va. DEP said Friday.
Water samples are also being taken in an attempt to grow the algae in
the laboratory. Methods of controlling or eliminating the algae without
use of algaecides could then be considered, it said.