Comments on: Sunny Day Breach

By: Denny Tyler

Denny Tyler — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 21:24:28 +0000

As far as I can tell the plan just covers a breach of the dam face. It does mention two portals from the old Brushy Eagle works where a breach into those mines would likely be the exit points but it doesn’t say where those portals are.

Like I said in this post I believe a breach into the underground works would be just as devastating as a dam face breach as far as the environmental consequences. I don’t think you would see the high flood wave because of the restricted flow from a mine portal.

Either way… I hope we don’t find out the hard way.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 14:01:21 +0000

Thanks for posting this Denny – especially for highlighting parts of the evacuation plan and making it easily readable and understandable.

This is an old post but I wandered this way through a link from Jeff Bigger’s article on Brushy Fork this morning (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-biggers/tip-of-iceberg-of-masseys_b_529846.html)

Is there more info in the evacuation plan about what would happen should the break come through the Brushy Eagle mine? Where are the openings in the mine? Would it be a slower flow that way – meaning there would be more time to evacuate? Would the level of the breach be lower too?

If there isn’t info in the evacuation plan on it, I wonder if we could figure it out comparing the devastation of Buffalo Creek vs. the devastation of the Martin County spill – the first being a dam face break and the second being an underground break. What do you think?

Thanks for all you do!!

By: Denny Tyler

Denny Tyler — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:27:03 +0000

Sara since first reading your comment I’ve been curious. Your comment is the first I have heard of contour mining instead of MTR on Coal River Mtn. I actually waited a couple of days to respond to see if any news articles would come out stating what you have said. So far I haven’t seen anything and after speaking with some folks closer to the wind project it would appear to be untrue. If you have a link you could point me at that would be really cool.

If it were true as it relates to the Brushy Fork dam then the danger outlined in this post would still remain because explosives are used for both types, contour and MTR.

As far as their “thoughtfulness”… probably if Coal River Wind were to get approval for a wind farm and a commitment from the state to see it through then CRW could immediately start looking for someone willing to invest in and build the wind farm. If contour mining were to take place then CRW would be in limbo because they would have to wait for the mining to finish all the way through reclamation and then they would have to get another study done because the topography would be different. From there the fate of the wind farm would be anybodies guess.

The only type of mining feasible would be underground mining. Explosives are not used in underground mining and I think common sense would dictate you probably can’t build a windmill on the same mountain where explosives are going off which is what would put the wind farm in limbo if contour mining started on the mountain.

But as I said it appears to be untrue, MTR continues. If I do hear anything though I will definitely write a post about it. Thanx for your comment and support.

By: Sara Young

Sara Young — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:01:54 +0000

I have the greatest respect for the people in Southern WV that are doing their best to point out the devastation of MTR and the problems that exist with slurry ponds. The future of that area is questionable and all because of the mining techniques.
I understand that Massey “says” they will now do contour mining on Coal River Mt. and that the people of that area can speak to “them” concerning future wind power, since they say they will leave the top. All well and good, BUT the study of the output of wind velocity was conducted when the mountain was intact. Uplift of wind would surely be affected, even with contour mining and therefore Massey’s recent “thoughtfulness” towards the future possibility of a Wind Farm is highly doubtful.

By: litobrancha

litobrancha — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:57:20 +0000

great post Denny! Pray it doesn’t happen! These thugs don’t care about anything but the bottom line.

By: WV hollergirl

WV hollergirl — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:17:09 +0000

Thank you for posting this. The people that live in this valley had better wake up. I don’t know what is scarier, these dangerous coal waste dams or the fact that the local residents are turning their heads as to what can happen to their children, grand children and loved ones.

For shame on the coal companies, the agencies and the elected officials.