Coal company selenium releases 'violate permits'

Alpha Natural Resources has been found to be illegally discharging selenium from its Raleigh County coal-slurry impoundment, US. A federal judge ruled that the high levels of toxic selenium being discharged from the impoundment are illegal and in violation of water quality standards.

Marfork Coal, a subsidiary of Alpha Natural Resources, was found to be violating it's pollution permit that is issued by the state, as well as water quality standards by District Judge Robert Chambers. The company has been found to be discharging excess levels of selenium from its Brushy Fork. Selenium is a contaminant that has been linked to a number of environmental issues, including aquatic life deformities.

The case was brought to court by the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, Coal River mountain Watch, the Sierra Club and the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy. It resulted in an 11-page ruling that showed that selenium samples violated the legal limits. 

This ruling is the most recent in a long line of disputes between citizen groups and coal companies relating to the excess discharges of selenium from large-scale mining operations. The increase in citizen group concern is fuelled by scientific findings that suggest selenium-producing mines are causing problems with fish populations downstream. According to the citizens groups, federal and state regulators are not doing enough to deal with the problem.

According to Steve Higginbottom, spokesperson for Alpha who released a statement to ThinkProgress, the company is set to appeal the ruling. The appeal is likely to focus on the fact that state-issued permits do not specifically limit selenium discharges, which means, according to Mr Higginbottom, the company is still operating within its permits. 

Selenium is a naturally occurring metal that is present in drinking water in small amounts. However, excess intake of the compound can cause a number of health problems, including circulation issues, hair and fingernail loss, and numbness. It is also harmful to the environment in large amounts. The presence of selenium in living things increases as they move up the food chain as it is bioaccumulate. It is also not easy to solve the release of high levels of the metal, especially within an aquatic habitat.