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MSHA News Release: [01/21/2003]
Contact Name: Amy
Louviere
Phone Number: (202) 693-9400
MSHA Publishes Internal Review on Kentucky Slurry
Spill
Agency Acts to Eliminate Weaknesses
PIKEVILLE, Ky.—The Mine Safety and Health Administration is
correcting weaknesses in enforcement procedures following an internal review
into the agency’s actions prior to the October 2000 slurry spill at Martin
County Coal Corporation’s Big Branch impoundment, Assistant Secretary of
Labor for Mine Safety and Health Dave D. Lauriski announced today.
“The purpose of the internal review was to conduct a critical
self-examination to determine how MSHA management practices could be
improved,” Lauriski said. “By strengthening MSHA’s internal
management process, we can make more effective use of all the tools provided in
the law—enforcement, education and training, and technical
assistance—all aimed at increasing safety for miners.”
Lauriski said that as a result of the review MSHA:
- is adopting new guidelines to make sure significant new impoundment
plans get prompt and thorough review by Technical Support specialists, while
eliminating backlogs of plans awaiting approval;
- is working to clarify and streamline safety directives on
impoundments;
- will issue a new impoundment inspection handbook; and
- is reviewing technology to help verify the exact extent of
underground workings shown on mine maps.
“During 2001 and 2002, the U.S. mining industry had its two safest
years on record,” Lauriski said. “Now our goal is to drive continuous
quality improvements within MSHA and make safety a value throughout the mining
industry.”
On October 11, 2000, an inrush of water and slurry poured from the
impoundment into an underground mine, burst through mine portals and flowed
into tributaries of the Big Sandy River. MSHA accident investigators last year
determined that the accident occurred because Martin County Coal Company failed
to follow its approved sealing plan for the impoundment. No one was injured in
the incident.
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