Jack Spadaro headed the National Mine Safety and Health Academy when the Martin County Coal Slurry Spill occurred in October 2000, spilling 300 million gallons of coal slurry into 100 miles of streams in Kentucky and West Virginia. He participated in the federal investigation of that disaster and found evidence that the owner and operator of the impoundment dam had prior knowledge of problems with the mine. Spadaro refused to sign off on an erroneous report and resigned his position before going public with his evidence of gross wrongdoing.