Selenium Runoff From W. Virginia's Biggest Mountaintop Coal Mine Killing & Deforming Fish

[hatrack]

Selenium pollution from one of West Virginia's largest mountaintop removal mines is dangerously poisoning Mud River fish, leaving some with serious deformities, according to one of the nation's leading experts on the issue. Fish samples showed some specimens with two eyes on one side of the head, and others with curved spines, according to a report filed in federal court by fisheries biologist A. Dennis Lemly.

Lemly blamed high concentrations of selenium in discharges from the Hobet 21 mountaintop removal complex upstream from the Mud and from the Mud River Reservoir. "The Mud River ecosystem is on the brink of a major toxic event," Lemly said in a report, filed April 18 in U.S. District Court in Huntington. "If waterborne selenium concentrations are not reduced, reproductive toxicity will spiral out of control and fish populations will collapse," Lemly wrote in his 29-page report.

Lemly prepared his report for environmental group lawyers who filed a federal court case to try to force Hobet 21 operator Hobet Mining Inc. to stop violations of its selenium discharge limits.

The court action is the latest effort by the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition and the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy to try to crack down on coal industry selenium pollution.

EDIT

http://wvgazette.com/News/200804260261

[marylanddem]

1. Shameful - thanks for posting...

[pscot]

2. Lemly better watch out

Someone will poison his dog.

[GliderGuider]

3. Blinky come home!