The Associated Press reported that 3 environmental groups have sued Alpha Natural Resources over selenium pollution again Monday, this time focused on nine southern West Virginia operations.

The complaint in US District Court in Huntington targets operations in Logan, McDowell, Boone, and Kanawha counties.

The Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy and Sierra Club say that Virginia based Alpha is violating the federal Clean Water Act and state issued discharge permits.

They want a judge to order the operations to comply and fine Alpha as much as USD 37,500 per day of violation, some of which date to 2007. They also seek monitoring and sampling to determine the extent of the environmental damage, and a cleanup and restoration order.

The affected mines are
Alex Energy's Whitman No 2 Surface Mine
Aracoma Coal Co's Camp Branch facility
Bandmill Coal Corp's Tower Mountain Surface Mine
Highland Mining Co's Freeze Fork Surface Mine
Independence Coal's Twilight Surface Mine
Jack's Branch Lady Dunn Preparation Plant
Hughes Creek Surface mine and Stockton Mine
Kanawha Energy's Fourmile Fork Surface Mine

Selenium is a naturally occurring element that surface mining can release into waterways. Studies have found it's toxic to aquatic life. In humans, high level exposure can damage the kidneys, liver, and central nervous and circulatory systems.

In May, the same groups sued two Alpha subsidiaries over the same issue. That case involved Independence Coal's Crescent No 2 Surface Mine in Boone County and Marfork Coal's 7 billion gallon Brushy Fork impoundment in Raleigh County.

Source - The Associated Press

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