Arch Coal Settles Selenium Lawsuit, Will Install Treatment Technology at Mines

CINCINNATI—Arch Coal Inc. will install selenium treatment technology at six West Virginia mines and pay $2 million to settle a citizen lawsuit, environmental groups that brought the action said Oct. 3 (Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition v. Coal-Mac Inc.).

Mines owned by Arch Coal subsidiaries will bring their selenium runoff into compliance with state and federal permit limits within three years, under the proposed consent decree filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.

Apart from the cost of installing new equipment to control selenium discharges, Arch Coal will pay a $200,000 civil penalty ...