Blackjewel Bankrupt Since July, But Coal Company Still Racking Up 100s Of Environmental Violations
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The conflict comes months after Blackjewel’s bankruptcy left 1,700 coal miners in Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming out of work, and sparked a months-long railroad blockade by miners demanding unpaid wages. Blackjewel’s bankruptcy also highlighted growing concerns about unreclaimed mine land and employee benefits as coal companies fold under economic pressures.
At the same hearing, Appalachian Citizens Law Center attorney Mary Cromer, speaking on behalf of a number of environmental nonprofit groups, told the judge that despite the best efforts of multiple watchdog teams, no one had been able to fully account for the status of every Blackjewel mine.
“As these mine sites are sitting, their conditions are degrading, the failure to maintain them is ultimately increasing the cost of reclamation. And that increased cost of reclamation, for the mines that are going to be abandoned, is going to fall on the citizens that we represent,” Cromer said.
According to documents filed in the bankruptcy proceeding, 63 permits have not been sold, which means millions in potential reclamation costs could fall to surety bond holders or state funds. An additional 157 permits have buyers, but Cabinet attorney Seward said none of those companies have filed the necessary application for permit transfer to take responsibility for cleanup costs. A further 11 permits are under negotiation or pending sale.
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https://ohiovalleyresource.org/2020/01/22/bankrupt-blackjewel-coal-still-racking-up-environmental-violations-officials-warn/
