MARSHALL COUNTY, W.Va. — Residents living near the Mount Olivet coal sludge impoundment are voicing renewed concerns about the facility’s safety, saying recent heavy rainfall has heightened fears about the possibility of an overflow or structural failure.

Community members say the impoundment, which stores millions of gallons of coal waste above nearby neighborhoods, has grown significantly in recent years. They worry that if the structure were ever compromised, surrounding homes and roadways could be at risk.

Some residents have also raised concerns about the area’s limited access, noting that there is only one road leading in and out of the neighborhood, which they believe could complicate an emergency evacuation.

Neighbors are asking for more information about how the impoundment is monitored, what emergency response plans are in place, and how residents would be notified if an incident were to occur.

They say their goal is not to create alarm but to encourage communication between the community and the company responsible for the site.

Residents have expressed interest in meeting with company representatives to discuss their concerns and work together on ways to improve transparency and emergency preparedness.

Coal slurry impoundments in West Virginia are regulated by state agencies and are subject to routine inspections. However, some community members believe greater public access to inspection information and emergency planning details would help build confidence in the facility’s safety.

The concerns come as periods of heavy rainfall continue across the Ohio Valley, prompting some residents to closely monitor conditions at the Mount Olivet impoundment while calling for additional reassurance about its long-term safety.