COAL REFUSE DISPOSAL IMPOUNDMENT SEMINAR
 -- BREAKTHROUGH MITIGATION --

April 9, 2002
Holiday Inn North
Lexington, Kentucky

On 11 October 2000, the Big Branch Slurry Impoundment in Martin County, Kentucky, broke into an underground coal mine in the Coalburg seam. The impact of the release on the environment was severe. Due primarily to the Herculean efforts of the owner, the spill was cleaned up and there were no fatalities and no injuries. Government officials commissioned studies by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and the National Academies (NA) to identify the cause of the spill and evaluate the practice of coal processing waste disposal in slurry impoundments to reduce the potential for breakthroughs at other sites.

The Big Branch breakthrough was a seepage problem, yet after a year of study with millions of taxpayer dollars spent in the development of reports, none of the reports included results of engineering seepage analyses. What really caused the spill? What is the potential risk for an event like this to be repeated at other sites now or in the future? What lessons can be learned from the Martin County spill by owners, designers, government agencies, and elected officials to reduce the potential for spills in the future? Results of engineering analyses, performed using data generated from the government-commissioned studies, and opinions will be presented as answers to these questions and more.

8:30 -- 9:00 am  Registration

9:00 -- 9:30 am  History of Breakthroughs
                        and Repair Methods

9:30 -- 10:30 am Martin County
                        Breakthrough ....
                        It Didn't Pipe, it BROKE

10:30 -- 11:00 am  Break

11:00 -- 12:00 pm  Lessons-learned from
                           Martin County Spill

12:00 -- 1:00 pm   Lunch (to be provided)

1:00 -- 2:00 pm    Dangers Associated with
                          Reports by MSHA and
                          National Academies

2:00 -- 3:00 pm    Breakthrough Mitigation
                          Planning and Design ...
                          Drains, Drains, Drains

3:00 -- 3:30 pm    Question and Answer
                          Session

A registration fee of $150 per person includes course notes, luncheon, and refreshments during the break. To register, complete and send the attached form with payment to:

Geo/Environmental Associates, Inc.
3502 Overlook Circle
Knoxville, TN 37909
(865) 584-0344 Fax: (865) 584-0778

This seminar will be held at the Holiday Inn North in Lexington, KY – Exit 115 Interstate 75/64 intersection. -- 1950 Newtown Pike. A block of rooms has been reserved for the seminar at the special rate of $83.95 per night for single or double occupancy. Please make your reservations by calling (859) 233-0512. To obtain a room at this rate, reserve by March 22 and be sure to mention GA.

REGISTRATION FORM

Please print or type                                                 Detach and mail with payment to:
(For additional registrations, copy this form)     

                                                                             Geo/Environmental Associates, Inc. ______________________________________________             3502 Overlook Circle Name                                                                                Knoxville, TN 37909

________________________________________________________________________________
Company

________________________________________________________________________________
Street/P.O. Box                      City                                State                       Zip Code

__________________________________________     BREAKTHROUGH MITIGATION SEMINAR
Phone No.                                     Fax No.

                                                                        MAKE CHECK FOR $150 PAYABLE TO:

_______________________________________           Geo/Environmental Associates, Inc. 
Email address