DEP Issues CONSOL Order

Allows discharge to continue into Dunkard Creek

Morgantown Dominion Post
28 April 2010

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued a new order for CONSOL regarding its discharge into Dunkard Creek.

The new order was issued because the first one expires Friday, DEP spokeswoman Kathy Cosco said. The first order allowed CONSOL to resume discharging from the Blacksville No. 2 mine into the creek.

CONSOL stopped the practice after golden algae bloomed last summer, releasing a toxin that caused a massive fish kill in the stream. The discharge has been the focus of the investigation into elevated Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) levels that allowed the algae to bloom.

There are few changes from the first order, Cosco said. One difference is increased monitoring for algae, because of the changing seasons. Warmer weather contributes to the algal bloom.

If the density of algae exceeds 10,000 cells/ml, CONSOL must cease discharge, according to the order. The company will then have seven days to submit a plan of action, which may allow discharging to resume.

There are also requirements in the order about chloride levels based on stream flow.

CONSOL also must continue to maintain its pilot reverse-osmosis treatment system at Blacksville No. 2 until the end of August.

CONSOL spokesman Joe Cerenzia did not respond in time for this report.

The new order runs through Oct. 31, at which time the DEP will review the situation.

You can click here for a 891 K .PDF copy of the actual order.