Feds say Justice coal cos. owe $4.6M in fines
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Mining operations controlled by West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice haven’t paid $4.6 million in safety fines and penalties, according to federal authorities.
The Mine Safety and Health Administration said that was the unpaid balance as of Wednesday. Most of it is at the Treasury Department for collection.
Some operations have an installment agreement with the federal agency that covers $571,000 of the debt and paid $975,000 previously, according to the federal office.
Justice listed 50 companies involved in mining in his financial disclosure last year at the state ethics commission. He has said he’ll put his businesses now run by his children in a blind trust while governor. The ethics commission hasn’t approved such a trust.