Massey cited for safety violation after gaining environmental honors
February 8, 2010 ·
Massey Energy was cited for safety violations at the Brushy Fork impoundment in Raleigh County, just one week after Massey was given environmental honors along with several other coal companies in the state.
The DEP says the communities are not at risk and Massey spokesman Jeff Gillenwater says the dam has already been repaired.
The same organization, the DEP, partnered with the West Virginia Coal Association to give out environmental awards last week.
The West Virginia Environmental Awards were passed out at the West Virginia Coal Association Symposium.
The Greenland’s Award, or top honors, went to ICG’s Beckley-Pocahontas site for environmental efforts at underground and surface sites.
President of the West Virginia Coal Association Bill Raney says the awards are given to companies who state inspectors think went “above and beyond” environmental expectations.
"The nominations come from the inspectors the people that are actually out in the field," Raney said. "So the great thing aobut these awards they truly recognize the work being done."
"Because if that work wasn’t being done there’s no way in the world that inspector would recommend or nominate the company to receive the award."
Coal-Mac, a subsidiary of Arch Coal Company took home two awards while Green Valley Coal Company, a subsidiary of Massey Energy took home the Coal Refuse Facility South Award for what inspectors call “outstanding efforts in operating and relaming” at the Nicholas county mine.
Progress Coal Company, also a subsidiary of Massey, received the Woodlands Award from the Society of American Foresters and the DEP for the reforestation initiative in Boone and Raleigh Counties. The reclaimed surface or mountaintop removal site is a fruit tree orchard.
Protesters have tried to stop the company from operating mountaintop removal sites in Southern West Virginia because of the environmental harm they say the company's operations cause.
"This is just a tangible example of that achievement and the dedication of these West Virginians who work on these operations to make sure West Virginia truly is the best in terms of stewardship and environmental protection."
In 2008, the federal government held Massey responsible for thousands of Clean Water Act violations. Massey was fined $20 million in that case.
Last month, several environmental groups said the settlement isn’t enough and gave a 60-day notice with an intent to sue Massey.