WARRICK CO., Ind. (WFIE) - The coal refuse dam at the AMAX Ayrshire mine site is failing, Warrick County Surveyor Dennis Wilzbacher says.

The site is a few miles from the Blue Grass Fish and Wildlife Area.

The dam is holding about 22 million cubic yards of coal waste, and Wilzbacher says that anytime now, the dam could break, sending all of that waste into Pigeon Creek, which would put Warrick County and beyond under water.

“It sounds like a science fiction movie,” Wilzbacher said. “But it’s not fiction in my eyes.”

He says the dam was poorly constructed, made up of small particles like coal, clay, and sandstone.

It was also constructed adjacent to a major waterway, which is not allowed under major statutes.

If it breaks, a major wave of contents would be forced into Pigeon Creek, da

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