Justice family companies agree to settlement with PSC

After they were ordered to pay coal transportation fees, five of Gov. Jim Justice’s family companies agreed to a discounted settlement and paid their bills.

Justice’s companies — Bluestone Industries Inc., Chestnut Land Holdings, Kentucky Fuel Corp., Nufac Mining Co. Inc. and Orchard Coal Co. — paid $175,282 to the West Virginia Public Service Commission, about $32,800 less than they were originally charged, according to PSC documents.

The companies entered into the joint stipulation and settlement agreement in October. They paid the fees in four installments, the last of which was due Thursday afternoon.

The settlement includes “tonnage fees,” which would otherwise help repair roads that are heavily trafficked by coal trucks, and administrative sanctions that stemmed from failing to report, or inaccurately reporting, coal shipments. The companies received orders in the middle of July to “show cause” on why the PSC shouldn’t enforce Notices of Violation against the companies in circuit court. The order also launched an investigation into tonnage fees owed and whether the PSC should impose fines.

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