NAUGATUCK - A spill from an impoundment at a mine in Mingo County was apparently caused by worn equipment, according to a mine company spokesperson.

The spill occurred at the Miller’s Creek operation of CONSOL Mining Thursday. A pipe that was being used to pump coal slurry sludge, a byproduct of the mining process, from the preparation plant to the impoundment ruptured, causing coal sludge to spill into Big Branch Creek.

Cathy St. Clair, CONSOL Energy public relations manager, told the Daily News the pipe was worn, causing it to break.

She added that the company was unsure how much of the sludge leaked into the creek, but they didn’t think it was a significant amount. Mingo County Office of Emergency Services Director Jarrod Fletcher agreed.

“We don’t have an estimate,” St. Clair said.”The spill was small, as Jarrod Fletcher also indicated yesterday.”

“It wasn’t a whole lot that leaked,” Fletcher said. “They [CONSOL] are going through the proper arrangements and channels with Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). They are doing the right things to take care of the problem.”

Both St. Clair and Fletcher said no animal deaths have been reported.

The Daily News was unable to reach officials with the DEP.

St. Clair said the company felt confident that there would be no damage to the water supply around the spill.

“The spill was not on the surface and was contained in the streams,” she said.

Remedial action taken by CONSOL will consist of vacuuming the sludge from Big Branch Creek and isolating the discharge. That water will be pumped back to the plant and placed in the repaired impoundment.

The clean-up should be finished by the end of the week, St. Clair said.xxx