The Environmental Protection Agency says enforcement actions against companies that violate environmental laws are expected to generate more than $1.9 billion worth of pollution controls and cleanup in West Virginia and Virginia.
Nationwide, the EPA says violators will spend a record $11.8 billion to reduce pollution.
The EPA said Thursday that the West Virginia and Virginia cases included nearly $20 million in penalties, the majority resulting from a settlement with Massey Energy Co.
Under the settlement, Massey will invest millions of dollars for pollution control improvements at its mine and coal facilities in West Virginia, Virginia and Kentucky. The company also agreed to set aside 200 acres of riverfront land in West Virginia for conservation and protection against future mining.
The EPA also says individual violators in Virginia agreed to spend almost $158,000 on local environmental projects designed to help communities.