The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration said that companies controlled by Gov. Jim Justice, D-W.Va., still owes $4.6 million in safety fines and penalties, according to news reports.

A recent story by the Associated Press found that the amount owed to the federal mine safety watchdog was unpaid as of Jan. 25 by Justice's company Southern Coal Corp.

U.S. EPA and the U.S. Department of Justice agreed to a $900,000 civil penalty for justice in December 2016 to settle some violations of the Clean Water Act in various Appalachian states, which in turn was part of a $6 million settlement with those agencies.

Justice has said he would put his businesses in a blind trust while governor, and after winning his gubernatorial campaign said that he would pay all of his taxes to West Virginia, according to AP.