A few hours ago I applauded EPA's move today to revisit two pending mining permits at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that would allow mountaintop removal in Kentucky and West Virginia. Like many others, I held out hope that EPA's action would lead to an immediate freeze on the hundreds of pending MTR permits, based on concerns about environmental impacts on Appalachian streams.
Now I'm disappointed and more than a little confused by EPA's "clarifying" statement issued this evening. Based on this, it appears that EPA is taking a positive step forward -- but it's a more of a baby step. To wit:
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.