SALINE CO., Ill. - The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency got involved in a coal waste discharge issue near Galatia, press information indicates.
According to the release, American Coal in Galatia, a subsidiary of Murray Energy, is the subject of an IEPA request to the Illinois Attorney General's office filed recently to order American to "immediately cease discharge of coal slurry and other contaminants into Bethel Creek" from the mine in Galatia.
The company reported that they were aware of the discharge situation which contaminated 3.8 miles of the creek; but worse, waste from an injection well storage area seeped into the crawlspace of an elderly man's home in the area as well.
American advised the IEPA that they had already turned off the pump that was discharging pollutants into Bethel Creek, as well as took action to fix the leak from the injection well.