Mine Violations Continue in Raleigh County, WV

On Feb. 1, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection issued a notice of violation to Alpha Natural Resources subsidiary Republic Energy for failure to maintain a haul road on the Collins Fork Surface Mine. This mine is part of Republic Energy’s complex of mountaintop removal mines on Coal River Mountain, which includes the Middle Ridge Mine, the recipient of 11 notices of violation since it began moving coal in 2015.

Republic has also applied for a revision to the Collins Fork permit that, if granted, would allow the company to delay reclamation and dump used tires on the site. The West Virginia DEP will be holding an informal conference to hear public comment on this permit revision on April 12 in Artie, W.Va. More information can be found at crmw.net.