Massey Energy officials say a settlement in a case involving the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will end up saving the company money in the long run, and help the environment as well.

Massey Energy announced it has settled a Clean Water Act lawsuit filed in 2007 for $20-million dollars.  The settlement will allow the company to save money by avoiding costly litigation.

The lawsuit stems from allegations a Massey Energy mountain top mines have polluted streams and water ways throughout West Virginia. 

Lorelei Scarbro with the Coal River Mountain Watch says she is not surprised with the settlement amount.  "We were surprised it happened so quickly, we were expecting it maybe it next week, but we think it is long over due and we are very, very thankful that the EPA is finally going to hold the coal company's feet to the fire here."

Lorelei says they are most concerned with the way the coal company impacts the supply of drinking water for some West Virginians.

"We have a lot of friends and neighbors who depend on well water and we're concerned about the underground injection and the toxins that go into the drinking water and our friends and neighbors are drinking this water, bathing in this water and cooking in this water," says Lorelei.

As part of the settlement Massey will provide technology that will give early notification of potential water quality problems, and include other computer programs to alert the company of potential problems.

"I can live without electricity, I can get my electricity from wind and solar, I can't live without fresh drinking water and that is the major sacrifice for mountain top removal," says Lorelei.

Massey will also perform 20-water quality improvement projects on the Little Coal River and will set aside 200 acres of Riverfront property, keeping the land from being developed.