Citizens Against Longwall Mining (CALM) filed the lawsuit last year against companies Colt LLC and IEC (Montgomery) LLC, which are proposing the development of mines under Montgomery County farmland.
CALM said in December 2003, IEC (Montgomery) LLC acquired mining rights to about 85,000 acres in Montgomery County. Another 120,000 acres of coal reserves was later sold to Colt LLC of West Virginia by the Montgomery County Board.
US District Judge Jeanne Scott dismissed the suit but granted CALM two weeks to file an amended complaint, according to the State Journal-Register.