Slowly but surely, West Virginia’s leaders are acknowledging the imminent danger facing the Marsh Fork Elementary School in Naoma, which directly downstream from a multi-billion gallon coal slurry impoundment.

Friday, April 30, Governor Joe Manchin announced tentative plans to build a new elementary school, with contributions from the state and private philanthropists.

(Marsh Fork Elementary sits less than 100 yards from the Goals Coal prep plant, run by Massey Energy, which feeds waste slurry to the Shumate impoundment just 400 yards uphill.  Photo:  Johnny Kilroy.)

The Annenberg Foundation has pledged $2.5 million to begin the construction of the new school, which county officials have estimated will cost about $8.6 million. Along with the Annenberg gift, the West Virginia School Building Authority will contribute $2.6 million. The Raleigh County Board of Education and Massey Energy Co. previously had pledged $1 million each to the school project, however, following the Annenberg Foundation pledge, both the school board and Massey Energy will increase their funding to $1.5 million each for the school. 

Coal River Mountain Watch has also contributed $10,000.

Contributor Charles Annenberg Weingarten said,

Every child deserves to be in a safe, healthy and productive environment.

(Overview of Marsh Fork (bottom center) under the Shumate dam.  Photo:  Vivian Stockman, OHVEC.)

It’s not a novel idea.  The thought occurred to me back in November 2006 when I first clapped eyes on the soot-stained structure at the toe of the Shumate sludge dam. 

Timely action on Marsh Fork is essential, if West Virginia is to avoid ownership of another Aberfan.