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what caused the buffalo creek disaster

by Lewis Hodkiewicz Published 1 year ago Updated 1 year ago
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In October of 1966, a coal refuse bank in Aberfan, Wales, slipped, creating a tide of coal sludge that killed 144 people, most of whom were school children. This disaster prompted the U.S. Bureau of Mines to inspect 38 coal waste dams in the state of West Virginia in 1966, including the one on Buffalo Creek.

What happened in the Buffalo Creek disaster?

Buffalo Creek Mine Disaster: Feb. Three coal waste dams in West Virginia failed, killing 125 people and injuring 1,100 more in communities downstream of the dams. Approximately 550 homes were destroyed, and another 900-plus were damaged.

How much was the cleanup of the Buffalo Creek disaster?

According to the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, the U.S. Department of the Interior had warned state officials in 1967 that the Buffalo Creek dams and 29 others in the state were unstable and dangerous. The U.S. Army Corps of engineer's cleanup following the flood costs $3.7 million.

What type of case was the one in the Buffalo Creek disaster?

Because of the defendant's exhaustive discovery as well as our own efforts, the Buffalo Creek case was one in which virtually every discovery mechanism of the Federal Rules was used: oral depositions (nearly 600 - of each plaintiff over the age of six as well as other witnesses), depositions on written interrogatories, ...

Who was the defendant in Buffalo Creek disaster?

Pittston(a) Pittston sought to dispose of the case immediately on the ground that Buffalo Mining Company, not Pittston, was the proper party defendant. [See Stern, at 79-84, 90-97.]

How many gallons rushed through Buffalo Creek Hollow?

132 million gallonsPhoto courtesy of West Virginia State Archives. In the morning of Feb. 26, 1972, nearly 132 million gallons of water and coal waste rushed from Buffalo Mining Company's slurry impoundments through Buffalo Creek Hollow, Logan County, W.Va.

What towns were affected by the Buffalo Creek disaster?

The disaster destroyed or damaged homes in Saunders, Pardee, Lorado, Craneco, Lundale, Stowe, Crites, Latrobe, Robinette, Amherstdale, Becco, Fanco, Braeholm, Accoville, Crown and Kistler.

Where was the Buffalo Creek case filed?

Buffalo Creek Dam (West Virginia, 1972)

What dam failure caused the greatest loss of life in the US?

After several days of heavy rainfall in May 1889, the South Fork Dam 14 miles upstream of Johnstown in Pennsylvania failed catastrophically. The resulting flood of 1889 killed more than 2,200 people and caused US$17m damage. It is still the worst dam disaster in US history.

What is a coal waste dam?

Mining generates enormous amounts of Industrial waste|solid waste in the form of rocks and dirt. This refuse is used to dam the opening of a hollow between adjacent mountains. After the dam is built, the void behind it is typically filled with millions of gallons of waste slurry from a coal preparation plant.

What happened to Pittston Coal Company?

Pittston Company lost 2/3 of production. The strike affected production in mines mostly in Virginia, but a few in West Virginia and Kentucky as well. Mine workers and their families engaged in acts of civil disobedience, work stoppage, protests, and rallies.

How many towns communities were hit by the coal waste water as it ran down the Buffalo Creek Valley?

26, 1972, at approximately 8 a.m., a coal slurry impoundment dam owned by Pittston Coal Company burst, releasing 132 million gallons of water, coal refuse and silt into the Buffalo Creek community. Black waves of water with crests over 30 feet high rampaged through 17 communities destroying everything in its path.

How many towns communities were hit by the coal waste water as it ran down the Buffalo Creek Valley?

26, 1972, at approximately 8 a.m., a coal slurry impoundment dam owned by Pittston Coal Company burst, releasing 132 million gallons of water, coal refuse and silt into the Buffalo Creek community. Black waves of water with crests over 30 feet high rampaged through 17 communities destroying everything in its path.

What happened to Pittston Coal Company?

Pittston Company lost 2/3 of production. The strike affected production in mines mostly in Virginia, but a few in West Virginia and Kentucky as well. Mine workers and their families engaged in acts of civil disobedience, work stoppage, protests, and rallies.

What is coal mining slurry?

Coal slurry is a mixture of solids (mined coal or coal waste) and liquids (water or organic) produced by a coal preparation plant.

What is a coal waste dam?

Mining generates enormous amounts of Industrial waste|solid waste in the form of rocks and dirt. This refuse is used to dam the opening of a hollow between adjacent mountains. After the dam is built, the void behind it is typically filled with millions of gallons of waste slurry from a coal preparation plant.

1.Buffalo Creek flood - Wikipedia

Url:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_Creek_Flood

28 hours ago The Buffalo Creek flood was a disaster that occurred in Logan County, West Virginia on February 26, 1972 when a coal slurry impoundment dam burst, causing significant loss of life and property damage.. The impoundment dam, managed by Pittston Coal, had been declared "satisfactory" by a federal mine inspector four days earlier.In its legal filings, Pittston referred to …

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Url:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajka_alumina_plant_accident

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Url:https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/triangle-fire-deadliest-workplace-accidents/

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Url:https://www.weather.gov/safety/flood-states-tx

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