The spill occurred during the early morning hours and originated at Massey’s Martin County Coal complex in the eastern Kentucky coalfields.
According to local media, officials do not believe the spill will create a problem for nearby rivers but local creeks are being docked to contain it.
The state’s Environmental Protection Agency office has been notified and the spill is not considered hazardous.
The total of gallons lost is not known.
Massey spokesperson Jeff Gillenwater confirmed there was an incident on Tuesday afternoon but said that information was still being gathered.
“I do know that some gray water ran through one of our ponds,” he noted.
The Martin County Coal complex includes an underground room and pillar mine as well as a surface operation and preparation plant, where trucks pick up output for rail and barge delivery.
Massey’s website lists the complex as inactive.
Local media outlets said the spill was near the location of a 2000 slurry spill, which was recorded as the worst inland environmental disaster in the US.
