At Risk: A Safe and Healthy Watershed and a Way of Life — Hunting and Fishing Along the Monongahela River.
PITTSBURGH, PA.///June 26, 2013///Residents living near the LaBelle Refuse Site, a coal ash mine dump located in Luzerne Township, are going to court over illegal disposal of coal ash and treatment of coal mine waste. The Citizens Coal Council (CCC) filed a legal complaint against Matt Canestrale Contracting, Inc. (MCC) today in US District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Attorneys from the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP), Public Justice, and Goldberg, Persky & White, P.C. representing CCC announced the lawsuit against MCC this morning.
The complaint alleges that MCC is violating the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and state laws designed to protect rivers and streams and reduce fugitive particulate matter pollution. Concerns about the widespread pollution caused by the coal ash mine dump have destroyed local homeowners’ ability to hunt, fish, and engage in outdoor recreation along the Monongahela River and its tributaries near the dump.
The coal ash mine dump is polluting local streams with extremely high levels of sulfate, iron, manganese and other salts that damage fish and other aquatic life. It is also leaking aluminum, manganese, sulfates, and total dissolved solids into groundwater at levels that are above Pennsylvania drinking water standards. Fugitive particulate matter pollution blows from trucks hauling coal ash without required covers.
For the press release, click here.
For the complaint, click here.
