By Robert Alford
The Associated Press

PIKEVILLE, Ky. - A federal agency acknowledged Tuesday it was lax in its oversight of a mountaintop coal reservoir that ruptured two years ago, unleashing about 300 million gallons of sludge in eastern Kentucky.

But U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration Director Dave Lauriski said his agency is not to blame for the environmental disaster, despite problems exposed in the internal review.

"This agency's weaknesses did not cause this accident," he said.

An estimated 310 million gallons of water and sludge broke through the bottom of the 70-acre impoundment near Inez on Oct. 11, 2000. The molasses-like goo gushed into underground coal mine portals, into two creeks and fouled drinking water to communities along a 60-mile stretch of the Big Sandy River.

Lawns were buried up to 7 feet deep. All fish were killed in two streams, and large numbers of fish died in parts of the Big Sandy.

Ned Pillersdorf, an attorney who sued Martin County Coal Co. on behalf of residents, said MSHA knew the reservoir had leakage problems as early as 1994 and should have stepped up oversight.

"I think MSHA bears some responsibility," he said. "This was a totally foreseeable event."

Bill Caylor, president of the Kentucky Coal Association, disagreed, saying the disaster could not have been predicted.

Mr. Lauriski said MSHA will assure prompt and thorough reviews of impoundments.