LEXINGTON — While the Martin County coal slurry accident has turned into an environmental disaster, Gov. Paul Patton said it will not be used as a pretense for attacking the entire industry while he is around.

        “We're not going to use this as an excuse to outlaw the mining of coal in Kentucky,” Mr. Patton said Tuesday during an address to the annual Governor's Conference on the Environment.

        Mr. Patton said the immediate concern is cleaning up the mess and environmental dangers left behind and then assuring a similar problem does not recur.

        Natural Resources Secretary James Bickford said criticism of the industry and safety standards for slurry ponds now is Monday morning quarterbacking.

        “I think that's totally unfounded right now,” Mr. Bickford said. “My concern right now is let's get this cleaned up.”

        Mr. Bickford said cleanup has been hampered by the remoteness of the area and the simple logistics of getting in and out of the area with enough equipment.

        “The concern is that we do this smart,” Mr. Bickford said. “The company up there is trying very hard. Our folks are working really hard.”

        According to the cabinet, there are about 65 active slurry ponds, which are used to collect coal-mine debris and tailings. The ordinary practice is to fill them, let the water evaporate and then cover the entire area with soil, plant vegetation and return them to a roughly natural state.

        But while active, they are filled with a soupy mess the likes of which has fouled much of the lower Big Sandy River system and threatened drinking water supplies.

        Mr. Patton said the lesson will be to prevent future ponds from being built near underground mines.

Voter registration at record peak
Anglican primate to visit Cincinnati
Another teen dies on Tristate road
'How's my driving?' stickers for teens
Time to study hard, but life gets in the way
Band answers school's wish
Deal frees OTR property for fix-up
Fire damage could hit $1M
Golden Lamb says street work could force it to close
Killer's hospital status debated
Ads play in swing states
Anti-tax group targets CPS levy
CROWLEY: Stumping the public access way
Piper calls ads dirty politics
Westwood says ad by Henson is false
Too many pets invokes penalty
Blackout hits Warren, Butler
Cops take to bikes in Fairfield Twp.
Covington mosaic goes on display
Detente night offered candidates
Ex-reporter could testify in '63 slaying
Medicaid reinstated for 150,000 Ohioans
More expected to seek heating aid
Princeton teachers' union ratifies contract
Thieves target Springboro schools
Widow describes hearing shots
Regional air traffic snarled by blackout
Kentucky digest
Lieutenant governor's son arrested
Local digest
Ohio State Patrol fires assistant area commander
Patton: Don't attack coal industry over spill
Roadblocks hinder media in area of sludge spill
Son charged with killing mother