EPA Delays Hundreds of Mountaintop Mining Permits

[dbackjon]

The Environmental Protection Agency put hundreds of mountaintop coal-mining permits on hold Tuesday, saying it wants to evaluate the projects' impact on streams and wetlands.

The decision by EPA administrator Lisa Jackson targets a controversial practice that allows coal mining companies to dump waste from mountaintop mining into streams and wetlands.

It could delay 150-200 surface coal mines, including mountaintop removal operations, according to the EPA.

Those permits are issued by the Army Corps of Engineers, an agency that has been criticized by environmental groups and has been sued for failing to thoroughly evaluate the environmental impact of mountaintop removal.

Under the Clean Water Act, companies cannot discharge rock, dirt and other debris into streams unless they can show that it will not cause permanent damage to waterways or the fish and other wildlife that live in them.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/03 ... .html?_r=2

[dbackjon]

In a separate action, the EPA recommended denying permits the Army Corps of Engineers was planning to issue that would allow two companies to fill thousands of feet of streams with mining waste in West Virginia and Kentucky.




This is excellent news - the rape of the Appalachians may finally stop.

[dbackjon]

[bobbythekidd]

Appa will be pleased.

[Appaholic]

Appa is....realize we need coal, butr there is a responsible way to mine that also creates jobs....MTR is lazy, cheap & irresponsible....

[dbackjon]

Appa is....realize we need coal, butr there is a responsible way to mine that also creates jobs....MTR is lazy, cheap & irresponsible....

Nail, meet head.