Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Environmental Groups File To Intervene In Coal Settlement
KENTUCKY....
Environmental groups North Carolina-based Appalachian Voices, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, Kentucky Riverkeeper and New York-based Waterkeeper Alliance filed a motion Tuesday to intervene in an agreed settlement that would require International Coal Group and Frasure Creek Mining to pay the state $660,000 to settle claims of lax procedures and violations at water testing laboratories. The four groups want standing in the state's suit against the companies because they say the state Energy and Environment Cabinet appears to allege only negligence, and the cabinet is at fault for not catching the violations, while the two coal companies are guilty of "reckless disregard for the law if not fraudulent reporting." IGC has agreed to pay $350,000 in penalties, and Frasure Creek has agreed to pay $310,000, but Donna Lisenby, a member of Appalachian Voices of Boone, N.C., says Kentucky officials could have imposed a maximum of $103 million in fines for more than 2,700 violations the state found.
Tuesday afternoon, Judge Phillip Shepherd asked the state to post the settlement for public comment for 30 days before he decides whether to approve it. Shepherd gave the four groups until December 22nd to make additional filings, and he gave ICG, Frasure Creek Mining and the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet until January 7th to respond.
Environmental groups North Carolina-based Appalachian Voices, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, Kentucky Riverkeeper and New York-based Waterkeeper Alliance filed a motion Tuesday to intervene in an agreed settlement that would require International Coal Group and Frasure Creek Mining to pay the state $660,000 to settle claims of lax procedures and violations at water testing laboratories. The four groups want standing in the state's suit against the companies because they say the state Energy and Environment Cabinet appears to allege only negligence, and the cabinet is at fault for not catching the violations, while the two coal companies are guilty of "reckless disregard for the law if not fraudulent reporting." IGC has agreed to pay $350,000 in penalties, and Frasure Creek has agreed to pay $310,000, but Donna Lisenby, a member of Appalachian Voices of Boone, N.C., says Kentucky officials could have imposed a maximum of $103 million in fines for more than 2,700 violations the state found.
Tuesday afternoon, Judge Phillip Shepherd asked the state to post the settlement for public comment for 30 days before he decides whether to approve it. Shepherd gave the four groups until December 22nd to make additional filings, and he gave ICG, Frasure Creek Mining and the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet until January 7th to respond.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 8:39 PM 
