EPA vetoes biggest mountaintop-removal permit

The Environmental Protection Agency has vetoed the largest mountaintop-removal mining permit ever sought, for Arch Coal's proposed Spruce Mine near Blair, W.Va. (MapQuest image). "The move is part of an Obama administration crackdown aimed at reducing the effects of mountaintop-removal coal mining on the environment and on coalfield communities in Appalachia — impacts that scientists are increasingly finding to be pervasive and irreversible," Ken Ward Jr. of The Charleston Gazette reports on his Coal Tattoo blog. "EPA officials this morning were alerting West Virginia’s congressional delegation to their action, and undoubtedly preparing for a huge backlash from the mining industry and its friends among coalfield political leaders."

EPA said it reviewed more than 50,000 public comments and held a major public hearing in West Virginia, and was "acting under the law and using the best science available to protect water quality, wildlife and Appalachian communities who rely on clean waters for drinking, fishing and swimming." Peter Silva, EPA administrator for water, said the mine "would use destructive and unsustainable mining practices that jeopardize the health of Appalachian communities and clean water on which they depend. Coal and coal mining are part of our nation’s energy future, and EPA has worked with companies to design mining operations that adequately protect our nation’s water. We have responsibility under the law to protect water quality and safeguard the people who rely on clean water." UPDATE, Jan. 14: Silva resigned as water administrator.

"EPA’s final determination on the Spruce Mine comes after discussions with the company spanning more than a year failed to produce an agreement that would lead to a significant decrease in impacts to the environment and Appalachian communities," EPA said. "The action prevents the mine from disposing the waste into streams unless the company identifies an alternative mining design that would avoid irreversible damage to water quality and meets the requirements of the law." The agency began looking more closely at the permit in September 2009 and issued a preliminary determination in March 2010 that the mine would cause unacceptable impacts. (Read more)