West Virginia Public Broadcasting reported that Little White Oak Creek in the southern region of the state had been flowing orange for some time due to contamination by iron. In fact, DEP officials started investigating the issue more than two years ago.
The agency said Patriot Coal owned most of the mines in the area and the producer – while not directly linked to the problem – had rerouted the seep.
“The immediate issue is that the iron was getting into Little White Oak, and so to address that we approached the coal company and told them that, we need your help … we need you to redirect this seep and capture it in your settling pond,” spokeswoman Kathy Cosco told the outlet.
“We can’t pinpoint the source the issue is that iron is getting in the stream, and it’s a corporate citizenship kind of thing to take this on.”
Cosco said Little White Oak Creek was healing from the contamination, but the state’s investigation was still ongoing.
The DEP also had enlisted the federal Office of Surface Mining for assistance, as determining the impetus could help to protect another water body, she said.
“While the seep is considered a source, there’s something that’s the cause of that seep to appear," Cosco said.
“It wasn’t there before. So what we’re trying to investigate is, is it a mining activity that caused that seep to appear. It wasn’t there before so why is it there now and that’s what we’re looking for.”
Investigators are working to determine if a specific company should be fined for the seepage.
Should it be found that a mine caused the issue, particularly one operated after placement of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, that mine will be cited, according to the outlet.
