Consol reps calm fears of Laurel Creek residents

Consol reps calm fears of Laurel Creek residents
The Williamson Daily News
By Rachel Dove
June 21, 2014

LAUREL CREEK- Approximately 25 residents of the Laurel Creek community attended a meeting Tuesday evening at Laurel Lake State Park to express their concerns about leakage from an old mine near the lake, and of the possibility that a “blowout” could occur.

Representatives of Consol Energy, who inherited the site when they purchased the former Marrowbone Development mining properties, attended the informational meeting and those in attendance seemed to leave with a peace of mind they did not have prior to speaking with those who have been directly involved in alleviating the threat. Several employees with the Logan office of the state Department of Environmental Protection were also present and reiterated that the risk of a blowout no longer existed.

At the beginning of the meeting, another subject was broached that brought a few questions from the public. A DEP spokesman made his audience aware of a significant revision that will modify a mining permit now in place to include permission to bury heavy equipment tires used on the Laurel Creek site in the backfill. No tires that have traveled on the roadway will be buried, only those from the rock trucks and endloaders that serve that particular site. The process will include the huge tires being cut up or shredded, and concrete will be poured over them to prevent them from rising to the surface.

“Could they contaminate our water supply in the future?” asked Johnny Bailey, who lives near the lake. “Have they been inspected to make sure they don’t contain any toxins that can cause any problems down the line?”

MORE at http://www.williamsondailynews.com/news/community_news-home_top-news/3820827/Consol-reps-calm-fears-of-Laurel-Creek-residents