Arch Coal to Pay $4 Million to Settle Clean Water Act Violations in Appalachian Mining Operations
Release Date: 03/01/2011
Contact Information: Stacy Kika, kika.stacy@epa.gov, 202-564-0906, 202-564-4355
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Justice Department announced today that Arch Coal Inc., the second largest supplier of coal in the United States, has agreed to pay a $4 million dollar penalty for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act in Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Under the settlement, Arch Coal will implement changes to its mining operations in Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky to ensure compliance with the Clean Water Act.
?Violations at mining operations can have significant environmental and public health consequences, including the pollution of the waters that people use for drinking, swimming and fishing,? said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA?s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. ?It is critical that companies operating next door to homes, schools and other businesses meet the standards established to protect the health and the environment for these communities.?
?The measures required by this settlement will prevent pollutants from entering waterways and bring wide-ranging improvements to mining operations in four mining complexes across three states,? said Ignacia. S. Moreno, assistant attorney general of the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Department