Thursday, April 01, 2010
EPA Tightens Permit Standards
KENTUCKY & WEST VIRGINIA....
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson has announced a policy calling for tighter water quality standards for surface mining. The benchmarks are hoped to clarify the water permitting process for mountaintop removal mining. Thursday, the agency released two reports that discuss the damage to watersheds by burying streams with mine wastes which increases salt levels in waterways downstream, hurting fish and other aquatic life. The new policy is designed to protect 95 percent of aquatic life and streams in the region. Jackson says the stronger standards are not meant to end coal mining, but to end coal mining pollution. Officials say "no or very few valley fills" would be approved under the new restrictions...drawing harsh criticism from the mining industry, cautious comments from coalfield politicians, and praise from environmental groups and water quality scientists.
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson has announced a policy calling for tighter water quality standards for surface mining. The benchmarks are hoped to clarify the water permitting process for mountaintop removal mining. Thursday, the agency released two reports that discuss the damage to watersheds by burying streams with mine wastes which increases salt levels in waterways downstream, hurting fish and other aquatic life. The new policy is designed to protect 95 percent of aquatic life and streams in the region. Jackson says the stronger standards are not meant to end coal mining, but to end coal mining pollution. Officials say "no or very few valley fills" would be approved under the new restrictions...drawing harsh criticism from the mining industry, cautious comments from coalfield politicians, and praise from environmental groups and water quality scientists.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 10:49 PM 
