Regulators Order Mine Operator to Correct Violations

State regulators have ordered a mine operator to correct violations involving well water sampling.

The Charleston Daily Mail reports that the well is located on private property near Keystone Development LLC’s KD No. 2 surface mine near Kanawha State Forest. The well is monitored for changes in groundwater and the mine’s permit requires monthly water sampling.

The Department of Environmental Protection issued a show cause order following a series of uncorrected violations.

DEP spokeswoman Kelley Gillenwater says the well isn’t part of the mining operation.

Gillenwater says the mine operator told the DEP that the owners of the property had refused access to the well site to take water samples. She says DEP also was told that there was a recent change in management between the sampling organizations.