Curtis Tate Published

Justice Company Could Face Clean Water Act Lawsuit

Pollution is visible in a shallow stream surrounded by brown vegetation and barren trees on an overcast day.
Pollution in Five Mile Creek in North Birmingham, Alabama.
Black Warrior Riverkeeper
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An environmental group has threatened to sue a company owned by the family of Gov. Jim Justice over water pollution violations.

The Southern Environmental Law Center has told Bluestone Coke it will bring a lawsuit in federal court under the Clean Water Act unless the company cleans up pollution from its plant in North Birmingham, Alabama.

Bluestone Coke is one of the numerous companies owned by the family of Justice, who’s running for the U.S. Senate. 

The plant is not currently in operation. Late last year, Bluestone Coke agreed to a $925,000 settlement with the local health department over air pollution from the plant.

The Southern Environmental Law Center said the company still owes $283,000 to the health department.

The U.S. Justice Department recently took action against the Justice companies for failing to pay more than $5 million in federal civil penalties.

The governor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.