Environmental Groups Sue Four Coal and Chemical Facilities

In early August, several environmental advocacy groups including Appalachian Voices, the publisher of this newspaper, sued the parent companies of four West Virginia coal and chemical facilities for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act and the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act.

Cited in the lawsuits are mines owned by Lexington Coal Company, Dana Mining Company, the Bluestone Coal Corp, and a chemical plant owned by Eagle Natrium, LLC. These lawsuits follow previous notices of intent to sue submitted by the environmental groups to these companies and 11 others on June 4. Lawsuits against the other 11 companies have not yet been announced.

Jeff Hoops, owner of the Lexington Coal Company, is also the owner and former CEO of the Revelation and Blackjewel mining companies, which filed for bankruptcy in July. Both companies have held back workers’ paychecks and have retroactively withdrawn money from the bank accounts of former employees.

The Bluestone Coal Corp. is controlled by the family of West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, and has been sued by the federal government for its failure to pay fines for miner safety and health violations.

“If not forced to correct their polluting discharges, these operations will continue to contribute to the ultimate demise of water quality that’s so important to the health and well being of all,” Cindy Rank of the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, one of the groups involved, said in a press statement.

The groups are legally represented by nonprofit law firms Appalachian Mountain Advocates and Public Justice.

The post Environmental Groups Sue Four Coal and Chemical Facilities appeared first on Appalachian Voices.

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