LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Two environmental groups are alleging that a West Virginia billionaire’s Tennessee coal mines are violating federal law by not monitoring water pollution.
The groups filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in East Tennessee this week against S&H Mining for an underground mine in Campbell County they allege is discharging pollutants into forks of the New River. Statewide Organizing for Community Empowerment, based in Knoxville, and the Sierra Club, filed the suit on Thursday.
The groups also filed a notice that they intend to file an additional lawsuit against S&H and two other Tennessee coal companies owned by Jim Justice, alleging that the companies’ mines are violating the Clean Water Act by not filing water pollution reports.
A Justice Corp. spokesman on Friday morning was reviewing questions from the AP about the court actions.
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