
The decline of the coal industry is exacerbating failures of the current federal system to ensure that mines are cleaned up.
The decline of the coal industry is exacerbating failures of the current federal system to ensure that mines are cleaned up.
The bankruptcy of coal company Blackjewel has exposed many flaws in the current mine cleanup system.
Appalachia’s latest coal bankruptcy looks different than others — mines shut down immediately and paychecks were clawed back from employees’ bank accounts. We take a look at what the Blackjewel and Revelation Energy bankruptcy could mean for mine land reclamation.
Several charts and maps show the enormity of the abandoned mine problems that still need to be cleaned up — and the inadequacy of the current cleanup fund.
As coal mining companies come out of bankruptcy, plans to provide mine cleanup and employee benefits remain unclear.