Community | March 24, 2009 | 21 comments

BREAKING! EPA Making Move on Mountaintop Removal

source: http://bit.ly/nomoremtr

apollogonzales
According to the following press release issued today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the agency is weighing in on the federal permit process for the controversial coal mining technique known as mountaintop removal. It's too early to tell what this may mean but it seems like a positive step forward.

[UPDATE: News outlets are reporting that EPA is actually putting a hold on dozens of mountaintop coal-mining permits until the projects' impacts on streams and wetlands can be reviewed. This is great news!]

Clearly, the Obama administration has gotten an earful from NRDC and others about the need to finally put a stop to the most destructive strip mining on earth. We'll be keeping a close eye on this -- here is the full media release:

EPA Acts to Reduce Harmful Impacts from Coal Mining

Contact: Enesta Jones, 202-564-4355 / 7873 / jones.enesta@epa.gov

(Washington, D.C. - March 24, 2009) The United States Environmental Protection Agency has sent two letters to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expressing serious concerns about the need to reduce the potential harmful impacts on water quality caused by certain types of coal mining practices, such as mountaintop mining. The letters specifically addressed two new surface coal mining operations in West Virginia and Kentucky. EPA also intends to review other requests for mining permits.

"The two letters reflect EPA's considerable concern regarding the environmental impact these projects would have on fragile habitats and streams," said Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "I have directed the agency to review other mining permit requests. EPA will use the best science and follow the letter of the law in ensuring we are protecting our environment."

EPA's letters, sent to the Corps office in Huntington, W.Va., stated that the coal mines would likely cause water quality problems in streams below the mines, would cause significant degradation to streams buried by mining activities, and that proposed steps to offset these impacts are inadequate. EPA has recommended specific actions be taken to further avoid and reduce these harmful impacts and to improve mitigation.

The letters were sent to the Corps by EPA senior officials in the agency's Atlanta and Philadelphia offices. Permit applications for such projects are required by the Clean Water Act.

EPA also requested the opportunity to meet with the Corps and the mining companies seeking the new permits to discuss alternatives that would better protect streams, wetlands and rivers.

The Corps is responsible for issuing Clean Water Act permits for proposed surface coal mining operations that impact streams, wetlands, and other waters. EPA is required by the act to review proposed permits and provides comments to the Corps where necessary to ensure that proposed permits fully protect water quality.

Because of active litigation in the 4th Circuit challenging the issuance of Corps permits for coal mining, the Corps has been issuing far fewer permits in West Virginia since the litigation began in 2007. As a result, there is a significant backlog of permits under review by the Corps. EPA expects to be actively involved in the review of these permits following issuance of the 4th Circuit decision last month.

EPA is coordinating its action with the White House Council on Environmental Quality and with other agencies including the Corps.
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21 comments // BREAKING! EPA Making Move on Mountaintop Removal

  • krush_productions
  • davzap
  • apollogonzales
    • 0
      apollogonzales  

    • UPDATE 9:25pm EST:

      So the EPA issued a clarifying statement this evening about this move. Essentially, this means the step they've taken to end MTR is a very small one. We CAN NOT stop putting pressure on them, please visit the link above to find out how you can join the fight to stop MTR. We are being heard, and there is progress.

      Here is the updated statement from EPA:

      EPA Statement on Mining Permit Applications

      Contact: Adora Andy, 202-564-2715 / andy.adora@epa.gov

      Following reports that mischaracterize actions taken by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), agency press secretary Adora Andy today issued a statement regarding mining permit applications:
      The Environmental Protection Agency is not halting, holding or placing a moratorium on any of the mining permit applications. Plain and simple. EPA has issued comments on two pending permit applications to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expressing serious concerns about the need to reduce the potential harmful impacts on water quality. EPA will take a close look at other permits that have been held back because of the 4th Circuit litigation. We fully anticipate that the bulk of these pending permit applications will not raise environmental concerns. In cases where a permit does raise environmental concerns, we will work expeditiously with the Army Corps of Engineers to determine how these concerns can be addressed. EPA's submission of comments to the Corps on draft permits is a well-established procedure under the Clean Water Act to assure that environmental considerations are addressed in the permitting process.

    • 3 years ago
  • jh64487
  • edbr
    • 0
      edbr  

    • if i could vote this up five times, i would.

      as an avid whitewater kayaker and somewhat of an environmentalist, i can personally attest to the destruction i've witnessed by mountaintop removal, as well as mining-related stream pollution. i've kayaked rivers (pigeon river, nc) where my eyes burned from pollution from nearby paper mills. i've been sickened by pollution from copper mining (ocoee river, tn). i've gone for a nice, pleasant day of kayaking, only to find dead fish floating everywhere, placing me in fear of exposure (ocoee river, tn).

      people, our rivers are HEAVILY polluted. the pacific northwest has seen its lowest salmon runs ever. what will it take before people wake up and pay attention? why don't people care? i suppose they think it doesn't affect them, but i challenge anyone to have their tap water tested. more than likely, they'll find remnants of mining, waste from paper or chemical production, and/or other pollutants such as dioxins. and they shower in that shit daily?

      it doesn't take a scientist, nor an environmentalist, to see, feel, and know what we're polluting ourselves with. it is everywhere, and it won't stop unless we all scream from our rooftops.

    • 3 years ago
  • clownpuncher
  • clownpuncher
  • edbr
    • 0
      edbr  
    • clownpuncher:

      my post below yours proves that you're an idiot. you bring nothing to the table other than off-color remarks just to incite those who actually care about other people and our environment. think about what you're handing over to your children. better yet, don't have children.

      mountaintop removal is one of the worst forms of environmental destruction. what happens to streams that once began where the mining is now taking place? an entire town in west virginia is being destroyed by mountaintop removal. there are two videos on youtube showing their polluted well water tarnishing a penny and completely coating a water filter black. more frightening are the reports of many occurrences of strange cancers as well as people's teeth decaying from the pollutants. there are even reports of children as young as five years old with full dentures due to their ground/well water pollution.

      grow up and learn something instead of talking shit about something because you know nothing about it.

    • 3 years ago
  • clownpuncher
  • apollogonzales
    • 0
      apollogonzales  
    • Image
    • clownpuncher:

      The opportunities to to build the new green economy, and more new jobs in the renewable energy industry than there are currently in MTR mining, in these areas of the country have been documented repeatedly. Check out http://www.crmw.net/ for a full report.

      Ending the MTR practice means ending the horrible practice of dumping mining waste into the valleys and streams that supply the drinking water for the people who have lived on those mountains for generations. I've been there, I've seen the orange water coming from the faucets, I've seen the warped foundations of houses in the path of shock waves from the blasts. I've talked to the people who are able to light the methane in their wells and in their faucets with a match. MTR mining is killing the mountains, the ecosystems that depend on the forests and is poisoning the people of Appalachia. Putting up wind turbines will provide more jobs, eliminate pollution and provide more power over a longer period of time than MTR mining ever could.

    • 3 years ago
  • edbr
  • jh64487
    • 0
      jh64487  
    • clownpuncher:

      actually, mountain top removal leads to job loss. they rely on explosive and big machinery rather than man power. it reduces costs for the CEO's and stockholders by reducing labor costs.

      so really you're just an idiot

    • 3 years ago
  • MycoJ
  • edbr
    • 0
      edbr  
    • MycoJ:

      i wonder what's in that funky green shit in the middle of the mine?

      name just about any metal from the periodic chart and you're 100% correct.

      scary.

    • 3 years ago
  • vladrath
    • 0
      vladrath  
    • MycoJ:

      As unsightly as open pit copper mining is, isn't it done out in the desert? Im sure it isn't great for the environment to be digging a deep ass hole there. But it probably has less of an impact then taking the top off a hill in the middle of a forest. Where you have to cut down all the trees, and then you dump the dirt next to it, where it impedes water flow. etc, etc.

      And i think the water is turning green from the copper mixing into it, like when you have a copper penny and it turns green.

    • 3 years ago
  • ayashe
  • current89
  • fun_size
    • 0
      fun_size  
    • current89:

      Shhhh dont let the republicans and crazy conspiracy theorists hear you say that. Of course Obama is making all these changes just so that we totally wont expect it when he decides to declare martial law and put the population into death camps. Of course.

    • 3 years ago
  • current89
  • 7c0m9
    • 0
      7c0m9  

    • My aunt used to work for the state of kentucky under the restoration and reclamation department or something like that. she went around and made sure the coal companies were properly restoring the land or at least all that i ever saw was them planting a bunch of grass where a mountain used to be. i hope something is done. first it would be wise to decrease the use of coal otherwise nothing else matters. there will only be price increases and wasted time. jobs will be lost so poverty will increase in these areas which in turn will create more welfare. the trickle down effect. good for environment bad for economy. anyway back to my aunt she retired from the state but she tells of the dirty people she worked with and how her life was threatened on a lot of occasions. no ones goin to back down. its goin to take local oversight. if the epa wants to make a difference fund more state jobs like hers where they oversee the implementation of new regulations and follow through on cleaning up after the mining is done. strip mining is what ive always known it as which might be the same thing as mountain top removal either way people suffer.

    • 3 years ago
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