Consol agrees to $5.5mn federal fine for WV coal mines pollution

[eppur_se_muova]

U.S. coal miner Consol Energy has agreed to a hefty $5.5 million fine and $200 million in pollution control to reduce mining wastewater pollution in Appalachian streams and rivers.

Author: Dorothy Kosich
Posted: Tuesday , 15 Mar 2011

RENO, NV -

The U.S. Department of Justice, the EPA and the State of West Virginia announced Monday that coal miner Consol Energy has agreed to pay a $5.5 million civil penalty for Clean Water Act violations at six of its West Virginia coal mines.

In addition to the penalty, Consol, the largest U.S. underground coal mine producer, will spend an estimated $200 million in pollution controls to reduce discharges of mining wastewater into Appalachian streams and rivers.

"As a result of this enforcement action, Consol will install a state-of-the-art system to treat wastewater from multiple mines that will set the standard for the responsible management of discharges from underground mining resources in Appalachia," said Ignacia Moreno, assistant attorney general for the Department of Justice's Environmental and Natural Resources Division.

"We are committed to cleaning up the waters of Dunkard Creek and the Monongahela watershed and holding those who pollute it accountable," said EPA Regional Administrator Shawn Garvin. "The centerpiece of this settlement-a new advanced wastewater treatment plant-will substantially reduce pollution by keeping 100 million pounds of total dissolved solids, including chloride, from reaching these waterways each year."
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more: http://www.mineweb.com/mineweb/view/mineweb/en/page72068?oid=122902&sn=Detail&pid=102055




(One would presume this is an industry-friendly source ...)

[no_hypocrisy]

1. That's all they're penalized?

[Tansy_Gold]

2. Pocket change. n/t

[hatrack]

3. "Hefty"?

Oh, the corpomanity!

[eppur_se_muova]

4. "Oh, the corpomanity!" LOL -- have to remember that one! nt

:rofl:

[jtrockville]

5. Coal is filthy.