Read Up: Great Articles On Martin County Sludge Spill
Over 300 millions of gallons of black coal slurry mixture washed over the creeks and communities of Martin County, Ky. in 2000. Although Massey Energy maintained that the accident was "an act of god," independent studies proved otherwise.
These articles not only give a foundation of knowledge about the spill, but also describe key players in the fight against coal.
***
By Ted Williams, Audubon Magazine
This article gives a profile of Jack Spadaro, a U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration official turned activist, as well as some history of other sludge spills. It describes the damage done when dams fail.
"Mine Safety Official Critical Of Policies Faces Firing"
By James Dao, New York Times
The Bush administration was none too pleased about Spadaro's criticisms of mining standards in the U.S. Some describe the government's actions as retaliation for Spadaro's whiste-blowing.
"Toxic Sludge From Massey Facility Still Pollutes Kentucky Town A Decade After Disaster"
By Dylan Lovan, Associated Press
This report explains how the spill still effected the environment in eastern Kentucky ten years after the disaster. Accounts from residents who saw it first hand describe the gallons of goo that took over their lives.
"Don Blankenship's Record Of Profits Over Safety: 'Coal Pays The Bills'"
By Brad Johnson, Grist
At the end of 2010, Don Blankenship ended his time as Massey Energy CEO after years of accusations questioning his business motives -- especially his seeming penchant for prioritizing profits over preservation. This article outlines his biggest missteps in both the Martin County Sludge Spill and the Aracoma Mine fire.
By Clara Bingham, Washington Monthly
Another comprehensive outline of the events surrounding the spill, this article provides a ton of in-depth information on Spadaro's efforts to make the industry's lax safety standards known.
