WVDEP has issued at least 18 cessation orders for Lexington's permits Nov. 21. Of the 18, 12 were issued to permits that weren't mining coal anyway, including 9 issued to 3 of the mountaintop removal permits that we monitor on Cherry Pond Mountain. However, 5 of the cessation orders were for the Crescent #2 permit, also on Cherry Pond Mountain, which is "Active, moving coal." Another is for Lexington's Surface Mine No. 9, also "Active, moving coal." These were Lexington's only surface mines still moving coal. Coal River Mountain Watch has been monitoring the activities and violations on the Crescent #2 permit and complaining about the WVDEP's practice of granting excessive extensions. 
On July 22, 2025, we submitted a complaint to the federal Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement, including the Crescent #2 permit as an example of WVDEP failing to halt operations of permits with long-running violations and delinquent civil penalties. The cessation orders were for unabated violations, as far back as February 2025, for problems including failure to maintain sediment ditches and cutting all the trees in the Matt’s Creek buffer zone (visible in 
On Oct. 3, OSMRE sent the Ten Day Notice to WVDEP, agreeing with our allegations. But, rather than requiring their response within 10 days, OSMRE gave WVDEP two 30-day extensions. Today, Dec. 11, 2025, WVDEP posted their response. The response mentioned the cessation orders but did not explain what, if anything, WVDEP is doing to collect the delinquent millions owed to West Virginia.It's Giving Tuesday--Please Chip In
Dec 2, 2025
Dear Friends, It's Giving Tuesday, the day after Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, promoted as a day to donate to good causes such as ours. Coal River Mountain Watch relies on the generosity of our supporters to fund our work to hold coal companies and their enabling agencies accountable. Our mission is to stop the destruction of our communities and environment by mountaintop removal mining, to improve the quality of life in our area and to help rebuild sustainable communities.
Mountaintop removal is a deadly public health threat and the cradle of the climate crisis. Our proudest achievement is securing a new school for the students of Marsh Fork Elementary. The previous school was within 300 feet of a coal preparation plant, 400 yards from a 2.8-billion-gallon sludge dam, & downwind of a nearby mountaintop removal mine. 
Most of our work involves monitoring area coal operations, reporting violations, and bird-dogging state and federal regulators for effective enforcement. So far in 2025, results have included:
More than a hundred people submitted comments or signed on to object to Alpha Metallurgical Resources’ new surface mine permit application for 670 acres to extract 10 million tons of coal on Coal River Mountain. Special thanks to those living within the blast radius who commented through our link or in person at the hearing. WV Department of Environmental Protection has 60 days from the hearing to deny or approve the application, but they do have loopholes that let them stretch that out. We’ll let you know their decision when we find out. If you were offered a pre-blast survey, please let us know if you need any help, advice, or an extra set of eyes on-hand for the survey.
And stay tuned for opportunities to oppose two more permit renewals on Coal River Mountain.
Alpha Metallurgical Resources subsidiary Republic Energy has applied for a new surface mine permit for 670 acres to extract 10 million tons of coal on Coal River Mountain, above Rock Creek, WV at the head of Rock Creek, Righthand Fork, and Bee Branch. The WV Department of Environmental Protection will conduct an informal conference (public hearing) starting at 5:00 pm Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, to accept comments opposing the “Eagle South” permit, number S300125. There is no virtual or call-in option available, but see below for other ways to make your objection known. Your comments will become part of the public record. -->>You can sign on to Coal River Mountain Watch’s comments and add some of your own at 
-The conference may be attended in person at Marsh Fork Elementary School, located at 5960 Coal River Road, Rock Creek, WV 25174. The purpose of the informal conference is to allow comments from those people who have an interest which is or may be adversely affected by the permit submitted by Republic Energy, LLC, for Permit S300125.
-You can also submit your comments prior to the conference by email to permit supervisor Laura Claypool at Laura.B.Claypool@WV.gov. Be sure to state that you oppose permit S300125 submitted by Republic Energy. 
"The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Mining and Reclamation (DMR) is hosting a virtual informal conference on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. on Renewal Application No. 3 for Permit No. S502808 held by Lexington Coal Company, LLC. The conference can be accessed at the following link: 
If you'd like to sign on to our comments and add some of your own, please do so by 5 PM at 
Here's a YouTube of a flyover (courtesy Southwings) of the permit (S502808) and the adjacent permit (S502007). The "disturbed" area is on the adjacent permit and includes a violation for timbering in the "buffer zone" of the stream. 
