A coal company has pleaded guilty to criminal violations of the federal Clean Water Act involving wastewater spills into a southeast Ohio stream. It could cost the company more than $7 million. The Ohio Valley Coal Company pleaded guilty Friday to the two misdemeanors in U.S. District Court in Columbus in a plea agreement with federal prosecutors. Court officials say the judge will review the agreement before deciding whether to accept it and the pleas. The agreement involves spills into Captina Creek in Belmont County in 2008 and 2010. The 2010 spill killed fish and animals. The Ohio company has spent $6 million on a stronger pipeline to prevent spills as part of the agreement. The agreement also requires more than $1 million in state and federal fines and restitution.
Mike Foley joined WCBE in February 2000, coming from WUFT in Gainesville, Florida. Foley has worked in various roles, from producing news and feature stories to engineering Live From Studio A sessions. A series of music features Foley started in 2018 called Music Journeys has grown into a podcast and radio show. He also assists in developing other programs in WCBE's Podcast Experience. Foley hosts The Morning Mix, a weekday music show featuring emerging and established musicians, our Columbus-area and Ohio-based talent, and additional artists that inspire him.