Blackjewel’s bankruptcy demonstrates how the mine cleanup system is coming undone — and how nearby residents bear the burden when coal companies fail to repair their damage.
Blog Archives
Blackjewel’s Catastrophic Bankruptcy and the Collapse of the Mine Cleanup System
TAGS: blackjewel bond forfeiture coal bankruptcy coal companies mine land reclamation mine reclamation pool bond Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act
Gov. Jim Justice’s Straight Fork Surface Mine again facing possible permit revocation
Updated Jan. 20, 2022: On Jan. 13, Virginia Energy sent a letter to A&G Coal Corporation suspending the permit for the Straight Fork Surface Mine after the corporation failed to respond to the Dec. 8, 2021 show cause order. The permit suspension gives the Justice company until Feb. 14 to deal with the ongoing violations. Failure to do so will then trigger permit revocation and a determination of bond forfeiture.
A bond forfeiture, unpaid fines, and a no-show: one month in the life of a Jim Justice family coal mine
As a Virginia mine continues to rack up environmental and safety problems, state regulators are proceeding with their strongest enforcement option — bond forfeiture. Based on the track record of related Justice family companies, the situation is not likely to improve.
Virginia issues new enforcement actions for Justice family mine violations
Mining companies owned by West Virginia Governor Jim Justice and his family have chronically violated environmental standards and failed to pay fines and fees. Virginia regulators recently issued notices of mine permit revocation and bond forfeiture for two of the family’s companies.
TAGS: bond forfeiture Coal environmental violations mine reclamation self-bonding Virginia Virginia DMME West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice
VA Initiates Bond Forfeiture on Justice-Owned Mines
Virginia regulators initiated bond forfeiture at two coal mines owned by the family of West Virginia Governor Jim Justice. The regulators cited failure to pay penalties and chronic environmental and public safety violations.
When Coal Companies Go Bankrupt, Who Cleans Up the Mess?
Blackjewel and Revelation Energy’s July bankruptcy announcement is the latest in a long string of bankruptcies plaguing the coal industry. But this bankruptcy is different, and the troubles it brings could be a sign of more problems to come.
Bond forfeitures begin on bankrupt Blackjewel and Revelation mine permits
An unreclaimed coal mine has sent mud and debris onto a neighboring property. The mine is one of five Virginia permits owned by bankrupt Revelation Energy and Blackjewel that are now facing bond forfeiture, which means the state or the mines’ insurance companies could take over the cleanup.
TAGS: bankruptcy blackjewel bond forfeiture bonding Coal mine reclamation revelation energy Virginia Department of Mines Minerals and Energy Virginia DMME
