Ohio EPA investigating Murray sludge spill

Washington (Platts)--30Aug2005

Ohio officials are investigating a coal sludge spill last week from an
American Energy Corp. pipeline that apparently killed thousands of fish in the
Capitina Creek near the company's Century mine in the southeastern part of the
state.

"We're looking to see exactly what happened and how far [the spill] got," Jim
Leach, a spokesman for the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, told Platts
Coal Trader Monday. "We're basically in the process of containment and in
seeing how far it went."

No citations have been issued against the Murray Energy Group subsidiary but
Leach said "somewhere down the road there will be enforcement actions" against
the company.

The sludge is thought to have leaked from a small hole in the three-mile-long
pipeline that extends from the mine to a slurry disposal area.

If a fine is levied against the company, the amount will be based on a formula
that places a dollar value on every animal killed by the spill, Leach said.

Murray Energy is owned by Robert Murray. He was unavailable for comment Monday
as was his son, Ryan Murray, who is Century's mine superintendent.

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http://www.coaltrader.platts.com.

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