West Virginia Blue
The Best Blogging Community in West Virginia Democratic politics, progressive policies, the good life and free living in Wild, Wonderful West Virginia.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration on Thursday announced steps to reduce the environmental destruction caused by mountaintop coal mining in six states.
The government will seek to eliminate the expedited reviews that have made it easier for mining companies to blast off Appalachian mountaintops and discard the rubble into valleys where streams flow.
The agreement among three federal agencies also includes changes to tighten federal oversight and environmental screening of the mountaintop coal mining in Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
snip
"The Obama administration has serious concerns about the impacts of mountaintop coal mining on our natural resources and on the health and welfare of Appalachian communities," Sutley said. "Within this plan the Obama administration is doing at all it can under existing laws and regulations to curb most environmentally destructive impacts of mountaintop coal mining."
A spokeswoman for the National Mining Association said the industry was not consulted on the deal and had not seen it. "We are disappointed this was not a fully transparent process and that the concerns of those closest to surface mining operations were not fully aired," Carol Raulston said.
No seriously, is this too good to be true?
UPDATE
Jeff Biggers is the man and is on it. The reviews are mixed, to say the least.
Teri Blanton, Kentucky: "I would say today's annnouncement is encouraging but we will have to wait and see if this is going to be good or bad. I would also like to add that we welcome them to come to Appalachia and hear from the communities being impacted by this method of mining. MTR is just a symptom of a much bigger problem this industry has worked outside of the law for over 100 years. Engineers who have been disgusted with the industry and that have joined our cause have said repeatedly that if there was a new regulation the industry would not work to abide by it but rather how to get around it. This has to stop. ...
Judy Bonds, Coal River Mountain Watch: "The Obama administration's announcement is pure political subterfuge. Scrutiny is another term for "smoke and mirrors." Obama's new motto is "Yes we can-blow up Appalachia." How will Obama fix the problems that the residents must deal with? I am truly disappointed in President Obama's bait and switch campaign lies. Obama says he wants to protect streams but a mountaintop removal permit is filling in streams. I challenge President Obama to bring his family and come to West Virginia and live near the blasting and breathe poison air and drink poison water that we mountaineers are forced to live with."
Copyright 2011 West Virginia Blue
Site content may be used for any purpose without explicit permission unless otherwise specified.
This site exists thanks to financial support from BlogPAC, dedicated volunteers and participation by members of this community. The views expressed at West Virginia Blue belong solely to their respective authors.
