MADISON, W.Va. — Inspectors with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection said Thursday they do not expect any violations will be written over a mine blowout in Boone County.
The incident happened Wednesday night in a closed section of the Hobet Mining Complex on Berry Branch near the Boone-Lincoln county line. Inspectors said a wet seal on the abandoned deep mine failed and allowed water to pour out of the mine entry and drain into Berry Branch.
Officials say the seal on the mine already had a pipe draining water from underground into Berry Branch, but the increased flow of water with recent rain and snowmelt may have caused the seal to fail. Water pouring out was clear and did not appear to contain any contaminants. The water was sent to the lab for testing.
Berry Branch flows into the Mud River.