Big fine in coal-tainted water deal

[n2doc]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — One of the nation's largest coal producers will pay a $27.5 million fine and spend $200 million to reduce illegal toxic discharges into hundreds of waterways across five Appalachian states, according to a proposed settlement Wednesday.

The agreement includes the largest fine ever for violations of water pollution permits. The Associated Press obtained details about the settlement before it was filed Wednesday in federal court in West Virginia.

The discharges occurred in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia,

"This is the largest one, period," said Cynthia Giles, head of the Environmental Protection Agency's enforcement office, told the AP. "It's the biggest case for permit violations for numbers of violations and size of the penalty, which reflects the seriousness of violations."


Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ap-newsbreak-big-fine-coal-tainted-water-deal

[2pooped2pop]

1. sounds like they got off easy

sounds like a damned bargain to me. There is not enough money to pay for the damage these assholes have caused.

and spend $200 million to reduce illegal toxic discharges into hundreds of waterways across five Appalachian states,

Hundreds of waterways across five states. How long has this been going on unchecked? Only going to reduce the discharges at that.

[n2doc]

2. I agree

Probably the 27 million was less than they paid their CEO during that time.