500 Coal Mining Jobs Lost in West Virginia

Blaming environmental lawsuits and EPA over regulation, Consul Energy has announced that it will be laying off 500 workers next year in West Virginia. In addition to lawsuits filed by the Sierra Club and other environmental groups, the EPA is holding several surface mining permits and subjecting them to “enhanced review” over concerns that they may violate the Clean Water Act.

Consol Energy was formed in Maryland in 1860 by a group of coal mine operators that banded together as Consolidation Coal Company. Today Consol employs about 8000 people across 6 states.