CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Coal producer Massey Energy has won a federal court order temporarily barring surface mining protesters from its southern West Virginia properties.
Massey wants the ban imposed for good. It will seek an extension at a hearing Thursday after winning the temporary order last week.
U.S. District Judge Irene Berger granted the request in conjunction with a lawsuit filed by Massey targeting protesters who've spent the past year invading the Richmond, Va.-based company's mine sites.
The lawsuit names five people involved in a recent tree-sitting protest. Massey also wants at least $75,000 in damages.
The protesters hope to persuade the Obama administration to ban surface mining in the region. They haven't responded yet to Massey's lawsuit.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
Science/Environment
February 1, 2010
Judge bars protesters from Massey mines in W.Va.
Click at right to read the order and the opinion
- Science/Environment
-
- Clean-coal project pushing for help from lawmakers Backers of the proposed $2 billion Cash Creek coal-gasification project in western Kentucky asked lawmakers Thursday to pass legislation that would force utilities to purchase the higher-priced electricity it would generate.
-
Coal legislators defend industry as activists call for change
Coal came under attack Thursday in Frankfort from a citizen activist group but not much is likely to change according to some key lawmakers.
- Grayson airs TV ad attacking Rand Paul on coal Republican Trey Grayson paints himself as pro-coal and pegs the perceived frontrunner in the U.S. Senate race as unfriendly to the mining industry in a political ad airing in the mining region of eastern Kentucky.
- Beleaguered US to blow up its chemical stockpiles Under the gun to destroy the U.S. chemical weapons stockpile — and now all but certain to miss their deadline — Army officials have a plan to hasten the process: Blow some of them up.
-
Appalachian strip mines have long-term environmental effect
Reclaimed surface mines in Central Appalachia have continuing environmental impact after their reclamation bonds are released but are not commonly monitored by state and federal regulators, says a new report from the Government Accountability Office.
- UN climate chief quits, leaves talks hanging The sharp-tongued U.N. official who shepherded troubled climate talks for nearly four years announced his resignation Thursday, leaving an uncertain path to a new treaty on global warming.
- Ky. National Guard adds solar panels to facility The Kentucky National Guard is going green.
- Bees impacted by mountaintop removal coal mining Mountaintop removal coal mining is destroying the flowering trees and plants that honey bees depend on for food in the central Appalachians.
-
Cold Spring man has eye on the sky
Fred Calvert doesn't have to go far for a view that's out of this world.
-
Still time for public to comment on Ky.'s forest
Kentuckians with an interest in the state's trees and forests are being asked to comment on a draft report that outlines forest-related issues.
- More Science/Environment Headlines








