CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - West Virginia regulators say a coal operator can begin testing new control measures at the site of a slurry spill.
The Department of Environmental Protection said Wednesday that it has modified an order halting all work at Patriot Coal’s Kanawha Eagle preparation plant in Winifrede.
The change from an imminent harm cessation order to a notice of violation will allow the plant to conduct the tests.
The DEP issued the order after 108,000 gallons of coal slurry spilled from a pipeline into Fields Creek on Feb. 11.
Control measures installed by Kanawha Eagle since the spill include remote cameras along the slurry line and two external flow meters that are designed to alert company officials of problems.
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