HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday issued a third contempt order against a Kentucky coal company for failing to submit adequate plans to clean up two polluted West Virginia mine sites.
U.S. District Judge Robert Chambers ordered Lexington Coal Company LLC to follow a previous directive to address selenium discharges and other pollution at the sites in Mingo County. The judge also fined the company $50,000 and ordered it to set up a $100,000 fund for use toward the costs of complying with federal environmental laws.
Chambers previously found the company in contempt in 2022 and 2023.
In his ruling, Chambers said the company has paid $169,500 in sanctions.
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“Unfortunately, this significant sum of money has proven insufficient to coerce Lexington Coal into compliance,” Chambers wrote.