Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Lawmakers Consider Permanent Ban On Coal Slurry Injections
WEST VIRGINIA....
During an interim session meeting Tuesday, West Virginia lawmakers considered a permanent ban on new wells that pump liquid coal waste underground. Draft legislation unveiled would also offer a tax break to encourage alternatives to coal slurry injections. As a cheap means of storage, coal operators have been pumping wastewater from the washing process into used-up mines. Last year, the state Department of Environmental Protection announced a moratorium on new injection sites following concerns that slurry was contaminating local water supplies. The interim subcommittee will revisit its draft in January. The bill would make the ban part of state law and would reduce income taxes for operators that reduce or dehydrate the slurry they produce.
During an interim session meeting Tuesday, West Virginia lawmakers considered a permanent ban on new wells that pump liquid coal waste underground. Draft legislation unveiled would also offer a tax break to encourage alternatives to coal slurry injections. As a cheap means of storage, coal operators have been pumping wastewater from the washing process into used-up mines. Last year, the state Department of Environmental Protection announced a moratorium on new injection sites following concerns that slurry was contaminating local water supplies. The interim subcommittee will revisit its draft in January. The bill would make the ban part of state law and would reduce income taxes for operators that reduce or dehydrate the slurry they produce.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:34 PM 
