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This LTE originally published by The Daily Press June 19, 2007Environmental groups say they want to join lawsuit against Massey By the Associated Press HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Five environmental groups said Tuesday they want to join a federal government lawsuit that accuses Richmond, Va.-based Massey Energy Co. of violating the Clean Water Act thousands of times during the past six years."It's important that we join it to sort of play a watchdog role in the case, make certain that it goes according to the law," Joe Lovett of the Appalachian Center for the Economy & the Environment said. "The statute gives us the right to do that." Also seeking to join are Washington, D.C.-based Earthjustice, the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, Coal River Mountain Watch and the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy. Massey maintains the lawsuit, filed on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency, inflates the number of alleged violations. The company also has disputed estimates that it faces $2.4 billion in fines. Instead, Massey has said any fines should not hurt its finances. Massey, the nation's fourth-largest coal company by revenue, operates 19 mining complexes in Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky.
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