Recent developments in the Blackjewel bankruptcy case raise more doubts about whether the serious reclamation problems at many of its coal sites will be properly addressed anytime soon.
Blog Archives
Bond-forfeited Virginia Blackjewel mines may finally have a buyer
Three Virginia strip mines, neglected in the wake of the Blackjewel bankruptcy, may finally have a buyer. But it remains to be seen if the new company would be able to reclaim the land.
Companies play hot potato with unreclaimed Blackjewel mines
Virginia regulators, a surety insurance company, and two coal companies are playing hot potato with 22 of bankrupt Blackjewel’s coal permits — and none of them want to be left with the responsibility of reclaiming the sites.
TAGS: blackjewel Coal coal bankruptcy coal companies mine reclamation southwest virginia Virginia Department of Mines Minerals and Energy
The Impacts of Coal Bankruptcies
With industry projections trending downwards, questions continue about whether the mine reclamation system can handle ongoing bankruptcies.
Bankruptcies Shake Coal Industry
Murray Energy filed for bankruptcy in October, the latest of eight coal bankruptcies in 2019. Legal disputes regarding the summer Blackjewel bankruptcy continue.
Workers Push for Pay After Bankruptcy
After Blackjewel and Revelation Energy declared bankruptcy in July, the companies retroactively withdrew paychecks from their former employees’ bank accounts, triggering a nearly two-month long protest and several court battles.
Bankruptcies Highlight Concerns with Black Lung Benefits Fund
Coal company bankruptcies are putting the federal Black Lung Disability Trust Fund in further jeopardy.
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
Blackjewel’s black lung problem
Bankrupt coal company Blackjewel owes nearly $10 million in taxes to the fund that provides benefits to miners with black lung disease whose employer has gone bankrupt.
TAGS: bankruptcy Black Lung black lung association Black Lung Disability Trust Fund black lung disease blackjewel
Citizen scientists uncover water quality violations in Kentucky national forest
Citizen scientists discovered that acid mine drainage is causing a creek in Kentucky’s Daniel Boone National Forest to flow a bright orange, and they spurred state regulators to issue citations to the mine operators. But mining company Revelation Energy is in bankruptcy, which leaves big questions about who will clean up the mess — and when.
TAGS: ACE Project Acid Mine Drainage blackjewel Citizen science coal bankruptcy Daniel Boone National Forest Kentucky reclamation revelation energy Water Pollution
© 2020 Appalachian Voices