Disposal
All along the process of using coal there is waste or byproduct. Here the detriments of its disposal will be examined.
Extraction Byproduct
A byproduct of the mining process is coal slurry. It is a liquid substance composed of fine coal particles and water. Generally it is stored behind a dam built between two mountains. It is left there as the water evaporates until the slurry is treated. Once the liquid is removed it is sent to a landfill. The slurry generally contains many other toxic elements that can soak into the ground as it sits. The temporary storage is also not fool proof. On several occasions dams holding back coal slurry have failed, resulting in floods. A notable example is the Buffalo Creek Flood in which three dams failed simultaneously, just days after being declared safe by a mine inspector.
Use Waste
Fly ash and coal ash is what is left after coal has been burned. Fly ash usually rises up the chimney or is captured by electrostatic precipitators. Coal ash stays in the bottom of the furnace. The fly ash can contribute to particulate pollution and can cause respiratory problems. The coal ash, on the other hand, is washed out of the furnace and put in ponds to dewater. Afterwards it is sent to a land fill for disposal. Not only does the ash take up land fill space but occasionally the dewatering ponds breach. In 2008 the Kingston Fossil Plant had a spill of coal ash slurry. 5.4 million cubic yards were spilled into the river and surrounding country side.