Kanawha Commission OKs Patriot Mine Runoff Study

  The Kanawha County Commission has approved an engineering study of Patriot Coal’s plan to treat runoff from two mines.

Runoff from the mines near Eskdale has been going into Slaughter Creek for decades. Patriot proposes to divert the runoff to a new treatment facility that would be located in Chelyan. After the runoff is treated, it would be discharged into the Kanawha River.

The study will determine whether the project is safe and feasible.

The commission approved the study on Monday.

Commission president Kent Carper told Patriot representative Drew McCallister that the study’s approval isn’t a sign that the commission will approve the project.

The project also must be approved by the West Virginia Public Service Commission.