Patriot Coal held accountable for selenium pollution

CRMW's allies at the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, Sierra Club, and Appalachian Mountain Advocates scored a major legal victory earlier this week, securing a settlement agreement with Patriot Coal that will require the company to clean up selenium pollution from three of its mountaintop removal sites (Hobet 21, Ruffner, and Samples).  Selenium impacts the reproductive system of many aquatic species and can be toxic to humans.  It is not yet clear how much Patriot will have to pay to clean up the pollution, although estimates range in the hundreds of millions of dollars.  In addition, Patriot will have to pay $750,000 in fines to the federal government and contribute $6.75 million to the West Virginia Land Trust.  They are also prohibited from future mining at their Jupiter-Callisto Mine in Boone County because mining in that area would generate significant selenium pollution.  For more details, see coverage in the Charleston Gazette.