A coal company owned by the family of Gov. Jim Justice has settled a lawsuit in Virginia.
A&G Coal, one of the Justice family’s numerous companies, settled with three environmental organizations. As part of the settlement, the company will complete reclamation work at three coal mines in southwest Virginia.
Appalachian Voices, Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards and the Sierra Club had sued A&G over stalled reclamation at 3,300 acres of mine lands.
A&G must complete reclamation at all three sites by 2025. A 2014 consent agreement with the state of Virginia resulted in limited reclamation.
Unlike the prior agreement, the settlement is enforceable by court order. A&G would owe higher fines if it fails to meet the new deadlines.
A&G will also fund reclamation costs of up to $600,000 from coal mined at the three sites.