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Justice companies failed to pay coal transportation fees, PSC says
David Fahrenthold Retweeted:At a press conference to tout his businesses backpaying their taxes, Gov Justice called the Gazette Mail the worst media in WV and cited this @KateMishkin article, which he said was accurate. Now he is talking about the need to report more positive news
Link to tweet
Justice companies failed to pay coal transportation fees, PSC says
By Kate Mishkin Staff writer Jul 28, 2018
Five of Gov. Jim Justice’s family coal companies haven’t paid transportation fees that would go toward building and maintaining state roads. ... They were among eight companies being investigated by the West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC) for outstanding Coal Resource Transportation System violations and unpaid tonnage fees. The orders come as Justice continues to tout his four-year “Roads to Prosperity” program to fund road construction projects across the state.
But according to the PSC’s orders, the companies failed to pay “tonnage fees” that would otherwise go toward constructing and repairing public highways and bridges that are heavily trafficked on by coal trucks.
The companies, according to the orders, also owe delinquent penalties from prior Notices of Violation. In all, the companies — Bluestone Industries; Chestnut Land Holdings, LLC; Kentucky Fuel Corporation; Nufac Mining Company, Inc. and Orchard Coal Company — owe $114,100 for outstanding violations that stem from failing to report, or inaccurately reporting coal shipments.
....
During his campaign in 2016, NPR reported that Justice’s companies owed $15 million in six states for mine safety penalties, state coal severance and withholding taxes and property taxes, among other things.
Reach Kate Mishkin at kate.mishkin@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4843 or follow @katemishkin on Twitter.
Kate Mishkin
Environment Reporter
kate.mishkin@wvgazettemail.com
By Kate Mishkin Staff writer Jul 28, 2018
Five of Gov. Jim Justice’s family coal companies haven’t paid transportation fees that would go toward building and maintaining state roads. ... They were among eight companies being investigated by the West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC) for outstanding Coal Resource Transportation System violations and unpaid tonnage fees. The orders come as Justice continues to tout his four-year “Roads to Prosperity” program to fund road construction projects across the state.
But according to the PSC’s orders, the companies failed to pay “tonnage fees” that would otherwise go toward constructing and repairing public highways and bridges that are heavily trafficked on by coal trucks.
The companies, according to the orders, also owe delinquent penalties from prior Notices of Violation. In all, the companies — Bluestone Industries; Chestnut Land Holdings, LLC; Kentucky Fuel Corporation; Nufac Mining Company, Inc. and Orchard Coal Company — owe $114,100 for outstanding violations that stem from failing to report, or inaccurately reporting coal shipments.
....
During his campaign in 2016, NPR reported that Justice’s companies owed $15 million in six states for mine safety penalties, state coal severance and withholding taxes and property taxes, among other things.
Reach Kate Mishkin at kate.mishkin@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4843 or follow @katemishkin on Twitter.
Kate Mishkin
Environment Reporter
kate.mishkin@wvgazettemail.com