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Sierra Club Joins United States Gov't, Appalachian Groups to Hold Massey Energy Accountable for Water Pollution Caused by Mountaintop Removal

Case Updates:

August 27, 2007

Massey Energy Company has shown a flagrant disregard for environmental safeguards, illegally dumping waste from their devastating mountaintop removal coal mining into the waterways of Kentucky and West Virginia in clear violation of permit limits. On August 27, 2007 the Sierra Club intervened in an ongoing lawsuit brought against this dirty energy giant. The United States has taken legal action against Massey for the thousands of Clean Water Act violations that they have perpetrated since January 2000 - violations that continue today. The Sierra Club is joined by West Virginia Highlands Association, Coal River Mountain Watch and Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition in standing up for local communities and holding Massey accountable for their years of environmental destruction and degradation. The environmental groups are represented by Earthjustice attorneys Steve Roady and Jennifer Chavez and by attorney Joe Lovett with Appalachian Center for Law and the Economy. 

Learn more about the Sierra Club’s efforts to protect our mountains here! 

Details and Documents:

News Articles:

Coal Company Faces Environmental Lawsuit
August 27, 2007 by Associated Press, Forbes.com

Ravaging Appalachia
August 27, 2007 by Editorial, The New York Times

Case Documents:

Sierra Club Motion to Intervene
August 27, 2007, Civil Action No. 2:07-0299

Declaration of James E. Evans
August 27, 2007, Civil Action No. 2:07-0299

Declaration of Mickey McCoy
August 27, 2007, Civil Action No. 2:07-0299

Affidavit of David Cooper
August 27, 2007, Civil Action No. 2:07-0299