It is reported that Arch Coal has agreed to pay USD 2 million to clean up toxic runoff in five areas in West Virginia.

Environmental groups including the West Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition and Coal River Mountain Watch filed the suit against Arch in June 2010.

The settlement requires Arch Coal to immediately begin installing treatment technology to bring selenium discharges within acceptable levels. The settlement also requires Arch Coal to pay a total of USD 2 million up front with USD 1.8 million directed to support sustainable development and land use planning in West Virginia and the remaining USD 200,000 to the US Treasury.

The environmental groups said the settlement also requires strict monitoring of selenium treatment at the six sites. If the mines continue to discharge selenium above permit limits, Arch Coal will have to pay up to USD 25,000 for each new violation.

Arch said in a statement “We are pleased that USD 1.8 million of this settlement will support the development of the Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Clinic at the West Virginia University College of Law. This clinic will provide transactional legal services to individuals, non-governmental organizations, local governments and communities designed to address land use and conservation needs in three West Virginia watersheds. In addition, Arch is taking preventative measures to achieve consistent selenium compliance at these sites including the installation of five treatment systems.”

(Sourced from www.bizjournals.com)