Federal Interest in Coal-Mine Waste Disposal

This publication reviews the history of mine waste disposal at coal mines and documents the actions taken by the Federal Government to assure the stability of coal mine waste embankments behind which water may be intentionally or inadvertently impounded and thus prevent occurrences like the Buffalo Creek flood disaster that occurred at Saunders, WV, on February 26, 1972. Appended to the publication are rules issued by the Sectretary of the Interior amending those Mandatory Safety Standards for Surface Coal Mines and Surface Work Areas of Underground Coal Mines (30 CFR Part 77) that pertain to coal mine waste impoundments. The Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 empowered the Secretary of the Interior to promulgate mandatory safety standards for the protection of life and the prevention of injuries in coal mines. The actions taken by the Secretary to prevent similar disasters are documented for historical as well as informational purposes.