Federal judge extends temporary order barring protests at Massey coal mining complex in W.Va.

Protest ban at W.Va. mining complex extended

BECKLEY, W.Va. — A federal judge has extended a temporary order barring protests at a Massey Energy coal mining complex in southern West Virginia.

U.S. District Judge Irene Berger granted the extension Tuesday as she weighs Massey’s request to extend the ban. Massey wants it in place for the duration of a lawsuit filed against five people arrested after entering the Marfork Coal complex to protest surface mining last month.

Lawyers for the defendants oppose Massey’s request.

Berger’s temporary order now is set to expire Friday. Besides the defendants, it covers their agents, lawyers and Climate Ground Zero and Mountain Justice. The groups have targeted Marfork during a yearlong series of protests.