Introduction - Coal Waste Impoundments: Risks, Responses, and Alternatives - page 1

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Introduction
On October 11, 2000, near Inez, Kentucky, a breakthrough occurred in
which a 72-acre surface impoundment of waste materials from coal processing
at Martin County Coal Corporation released approximately 250 million gallons
of slurry into a nearby underground coal mine. The slurry flowed through the
mine, into nearby creeks and rivers, flooding stream banks to a depth of 5 feet.
The spill caused no loss of human life. However, environmental damage was
significant, and local water supplies, taken from the rivers, were disrupted for
days. This report develops numerous suggestions and recommendations to
reduce the potential for similar accidents in the future. In this chapter, we
review the processes that lead to the generation of coal waste and the
impoundments used to store it, and then we turn to a description of accidents
and incidents involving coal waste facilities. Finally, we review the tasks and
activities of this committee.
COAL PRODUCTION AND USE IN THE UNITED STATES
Coal is the largest single source of fuel for domestic energy production. In
the United States, 90 percent of the coal produced is used in power plants
(Freme and Hong, 2000). Coal accounts for about 33 percent of the total energy
production (Chircop, 1999). In 2000, coal accounted for 51.4 percent of electric
power generation (Freme, 2001). Industries and manufacturing plants also use
coal directly, especially those that produce chemicals, cement, paper, ceramics,
and various metal products. On average, about 20 pounds of coal are utilized
per day per capita in the United States (Chircop, 1999).
The United States has approximately 26 percent of the world's coal
reserves (BP Global, 2001) ( Table 1.1 ). More than 400 coalfields and small
deposits underlie a total of 458,600 square miles in 38 states, nearly evenly