New Citizen Lawsuits Target Selenium Pollution from Coal

"CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Environmental groups filed two new major lawsuits Thursday, aimed at forcing the coal industry to stop violations of water-quality limits for toxic selenium.


Lawyers for the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition and other groups filed the lawsuits in U.S. District Court in Huntington against subsidiaries of Massey Energy and Arch Coal.

The lawsuits target alleged selenium violations at six surface mines in Boone, Logan, Mingo, Kanawha and Raleigh counties.

Citizen groups filed the lawsuits three days after U.S. District Judge Robert C. Chambers issued a ruling that harshly criticized another company, Patriot Coal's Hobet Mining subsidiary, and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection for continued delays in stopping selenium violations."

Ken Ward Jr. reports for the Charleston Gazette June 17, 2010.