Thursday, October 14, 2010
Environmental Groups Seek To Intervene In Mining Lawsuit
WEST VIRGINIA....
The Sierra Club and other environmental groups are seeking to intervene in a coal industry lawsuit brought by the National Mining Association. Mining industry lawyers are seeking to block more detailed permit reviews and tougher water quality guidance issued earlier this year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Shortly after the Obama administration took office, the EPA began much more rigorous reviews of valley fill permit applications being considered by the federal Army Corps of Engineers and threatened to exercise its Clean Water Act authority to block those permits if it believed the impacts were too great. In April, the EPA announced a new guidance for its regional offices in reviewing water pollution permits for mining projects being considered for issuance by state agencies. In its suit, the mining association said the guidance constitutes a rulemaking that should have gone through a public comment before it was put into effect.
The other groups seeking to intervene are Coal River Mountain Watch, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards, and Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment.
The Sierra Club and other environmental groups are seeking to intervene in a coal industry lawsuit brought by the National Mining Association. Mining industry lawyers are seeking to block more detailed permit reviews and tougher water quality guidance issued earlier this year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Shortly after the Obama administration took office, the EPA began much more rigorous reviews of valley fill permit applications being considered by the federal Army Corps of Engineers and threatened to exercise its Clean Water Act authority to block those permits if it believed the impacts were too great. In April, the EPA announced a new guidance for its regional offices in reviewing water pollution permits for mining projects being considered for issuance by state agencies. In its suit, the mining association said the guidance constitutes a rulemaking that should have gone through a public comment before it was put into effect.
The other groups seeking to intervene are Coal River Mountain Watch, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards, and Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 9:53 AM 
