Alpha Natural Inks Consent Decree With EPA, Agrees To Pay $27.5 Mln

(RTTNews) - Metallurgical coal processor Alpha Natural Resources Inc. (ANR) Wednesday said it has entered into a consent decree with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or EPA, U.S. Department of Justice and three states regarding claims under the Clean Water Act, and agreed to pay $27.5 million in civil penalties.

The consent decree resolves a complaint by the EPA and state agencies alleging that the company's mining affiliates in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia exceeded some water discharge permit limits. The complaint did not allege that the exceedances posed a risk to human health.

As part of the consent decree, Alpha agreed to implement an integrated environmental management system and an expanded auditing/reporting protocol, that selenium and osmotic pressure treatment facilities would be installed at specific locations, as well as certain other measures.

The consent decree stipulates that Alpha pay $27.5 million in civil penalties, to be divided among the federal government and state agencies.

Alpha Senior Vice President of Environmental Affairs Gene Kitts said, ''This consent decree provides a framework for our efforts to become fully compliant with our environmental permits, specifically under the Clean Water Act."

According to the company, many of the consent decree measures were put in place before reaching the agreement.

ANR closed down 1.3 percent on Wednesday at $5.24.