Apr 1 Energy & Environment Justice Coal Companies Agree To Settle $5 Million In Delinquent Mine Safety Debts Coal companies owned by the family of West Virginia Governor Jim Justice have agreed to pay more than $5 million in overdue mine health and safety fines and fees. According to a press release released Wednesday, a total of 24 coal companies owned by the Justice family agreed to settle millions of dollars in unpaid […] By Brittany Patterson Apr 1 Energy & Environment Justice Coal Companies Agree To Settle $5 Million In Delinquent Mine Safety Debts Brittany Patterson
Aug 22 Energy & Environment Mines That Change Owners Have Worse Safety Record, Audit Finds A new federal government report shows that mines that changed ownership had worse safety records than mines where ownership did not change. According to an audit from the Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General, mines that changed ownership during a 17-year period were nearly twice as likely to have safety violations, and five […] By Sydney Boles Aug 22 Energy & Environment Mines That Change Owners Have Worse Safety Record, Audit Finds Sydney Boles
Jun 11 Energy & Environment Coal Companies Belonging To WV Gov. Justice’s Family Agree To Pay Overdue Taxes In KY Coal companies controlled by the family of West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice have agreed to a settlement covering millions of dollars in overdue property taxes in four eastern Kentucky counties: Harlan, Knott, Magoffin, and Pike. Checks totaling $1.2 million from Justice entities began rolling in last week, county officials said. According to state officials, the […] By Brittany Patterson Jun 11 Energy & Environment Coal Companies Belonging To WV Gov. Justice’s Family Agree To Pay Overdue Taxes In KY Brittany Patterson
May 22 Energy & Environment Facing Second Lawsuit From Federal Mine Regulators, Justice Coal Companies File Suit Of Their Own In apparent anticipation of a federal lawsuit seeking recovery of overdue penalties, coal companies owned by the family of West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice have filed a lawsuit of their own against federal surface mining regulators. The suit, first reported by WV MetroNews, is an apparent preemptive strike against the federal government, which is preparing […] By Brittany Patterson May 22 Energy & Environment Facing Second Lawsuit From Federal Mine Regulators, Justice Coal Companies File Suit Of Their Own Brittany Patterson
May 7 Energy & Environment Justice Dept. Seeks $4.7M In Overdue Mine Safety Fines From WV Gov. Justice’s Family Companies The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a civil lawsuit against 23 coal companies owned by the family of West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, seeking more than $4.7 million in unpaid fines and fees for mine safety and health violations. The delinquent fines were brought to light by investigations by NPR and the Ohio Valley […] By Brittany Patterson May 7 Energy & Environment Justice Dept. Seeks $4.7M In Overdue Mine Safety Fines From WV Gov. Justice’s Family Companies Brittany Patterson
Apr 5 Energy & Environment Mine Safety Debt For WV Gov. Justice’s Family Companies Grows to $4M An Ohio Valley ReSource analysis of federal mine safety data shows that the companies belonging to the family of West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice owe $4.3 million in delinquent debt for mine safety violations. That is far more than the companies owed when Justice ran for governor in 2016, when he pledged to make good […] By Alexandra Kanik and Brittany Patterson Apr 5 Energy & Environment Mine Safety Debt For WV Gov. Justice’s Family Companies Grows to $4M Alexandra Kanik and Brittany Patterson
Jan 3 Energy & Environment Three Miners Dead In Eleven Days: Grim December Caps Year In Coal Mine Safety Just a few months ago, the U.S. coal mining industry was on track for its safest year in history. But in an eleven-day span in late December, three miners died after separate incidents, bringing the total number of fatalities in 2018 to 12, even as coal mining employment continued its decline. “It is a reminder […] By Jeff Young Jan 3 Energy & Environment Three Miners Dead In Eleven Days: Grim December Caps Year In Coal Mine Safety Jeff Young
Dec 4 Energy & Environment Mine Workers Sue Federal Regulators Over Controversial Mine Safety Decision The United Mine Workers of America is suing the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration, or MSHA, after the agency reduced its heightened oversight of a West Virginia coal mine with a poor safety record. MSHA has the power to declare mines with a history of significant safety violations as having a “Pattern of Violations.” […] By Brittany Patterson and Becca Schimmel Dec 4 Energy & Environment Mine Workers Sue Federal Regulators Over Controversial Mine Safety Decision Brittany Patterson and Becca Schimmel
Dec 19 Energy & Environment Mine Health Expert Concerned About Review Of Coal Dust Rule The Trump administration’s Office of Management and Budget has announced a review of an Obama-era rule that protects coal miners from exposure to the dust that causes black lung disease. That has some health and safety advocates concerned. The review comes amid a tide of regulatory rollbacks by the Trump administration and at a time […] By Benny Becker Dec 19 Energy & Environment Mine Health Expert Concerned About Review Of Coal Dust Rule Benny Becker
Nov 14 Economy Controversial Mine Safety Nominee Faces Final Vote The U.S. Senate voted along party lines Wednesday, 52 to 46, to narrowly confirm President Trump’s nominee to lead the Mine Safety and Health Administration, or MSHA. The country’s top mine safety position has been vacant since January as coal mining fatalities have risen to a two-year high. Trump’s choice to fill the post faced […] By Becca Schimmel Nov 14 Economy Controversial Mine Safety Nominee Faces Final Vote Becca Schimmel