A coal mine in West Virginia owned by Republican Sen. Jim Justice’s family was recently shuttered for a string of environmental violations, reflecting the ongoing regulatory and financial challenges plaguing the former governor.
The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection pulled a mining permit for Bluestone Coal’s Poca surface mine in McDowell County, West Virginia. The mine is owned by Justice’s family, confirmed Terry Fletcher, a spokesperson for the department.
“The permit and Bluestone’s right to mine are hereby immediately suspended,” Jonathan Rorrer, director of the agency’s Division of Mining and Reclamation, wrote in a Jan. 8 suspension order.
Calls to Bluestone Coal were not immediately returned, and the senator’s office declined to comment on business matters.