By Timothy Gardner
WASHINGTON, Oct 15 (Reuters) - U.S. environmental regulators moved closer to revoking a permit for one of the country's largest mountaintop coalmines on Friday in their latest move to crack down on a technique that scientists say does irreparable harm to water and wildlife.
The Environmental Protection Agency released recommendations from its mid-Atlantic regional head to revoke the permit on the mine, owned by St. Louis-based Arch Coal Inc . The Army Corps of Engineers had approved a permit for the mine in 2007, but it has not yet been fully constructed.
Shawn Garvin, the regional EPA administrator, said in a document released by the agency's headquarters that discharges from the Spruce 1 mine -- located in West Virginia -- would 'likely have unacceptable adverse effects on wildlife'.
He said the Army Corps, a government agency, had not considered how the mine would affect the lives of poor people in the area and that pollution from the mine could hurt their water supplies.
It was the latest move by President Barack Obama's administration to crack down on mountaintop mining, in which companies blow up sharp mountain peaks with explosives to get to the coal seam and then toss the rubble into valleys below.
Obama's EPA also plans early next year to start requiring big emitters of carbon dioxide, such as coal-fired power plants, to carry permits to produce the planet-warming gas.
The administration's policy to get tough on coal could face stiffer opposition in Congress if Republicans pick up seats in the House of Representatives or the Senate in mid-term elections on Nov. 2.
STEP IN THE PROCESS
The EPA said it would make a final decision on the permit before Dec. 21. 'It is important to emphasize that this is only one step in the process,' the agency said in a statement.
Its next step will be to discuss with Arch, the Army Corps of Engineers and West Virginia State officials potential action to reduce harm to the environment and local waters.
Even before the release of the document, the EPA's website had said the agency was concerned the project could hurt the region's fish, wildlife and water quality.
Arch said it would defend its permit vigorously.
'If the EPA proceeds with its unlawful veto ... West Virginia's economy and future tax base will suffer a serious blow,' Arch said.
It said absent court action, the EPA veto would prohibit it from investing an additional $250 million in a mining operation that would create 250 jobs and generate tens of millions of dollars in tax revenues.
Environmentalists praised Garvin, the EPA's regional head, and pushed the agency to revoke the permit.
'This mother of all mountaintop removal coalmines would destroy thousands of acres of land, bury seven miles of streams and end a way of life for too many Appalachian families,' said Michael Brune, the Sierra Club's executive director.
Earlier this year, a group of scientists called on the U.S. government to stop issuing new permits for mountaintop coalmining. They cited research that the practice can hurt local residents who have contact with local streams or breathe airborne toxins and dust near such mines.
(Editing by Dale Hudson) Keywords: COAL EPA/MOUNTAINTOP (timothy.gardner@thomsonreuters.com; +1 202-898-8360; timothy.gardner.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
WASHINGTON, Oct 15 (Reuters) - U.S. environmental regulators moved closer to revoking a permit for one of the country's largest mountaintop coalmines on Friday in their latest move to crack down on a technique that scientists say does irreparable harm to water and wildlife.
The Environmental Protection Agency released recommendations from its mid-Atlantic regional head to revoke the permit on the mine, owned by St. Louis-based Arch Coal Inc . The Army Corps of Engineers had approved a permit for the mine in 2007, but it has not yet been fully constructed.
Shawn Garvin, the regional EPA administrator, said in a document released by the agency's headquarters that discharges from the Spruce 1 mine -- located in West Virginia -- would 'likely have unacceptable adverse effects on wildlife'.
He said the Army Corps, a government agency, had not considered how the mine would affect the lives of poor people in the area and that pollution from the mine could hurt their water supplies.
It was the latest move by President Barack Obama's administration to crack down on mountaintop mining, in which companies blow up sharp mountain peaks with explosives to get to the coal seam and then toss the rubble into valleys below.
Obama's EPA also plans early next year to start requiring big emitters of carbon dioxide, such as coal-fired power plants, to carry permits to produce the planet-warming gas.
The administration's policy to get tough on coal could face stiffer opposition in Congress if Republicans pick up seats in the House of Representatives or the Senate in mid-term elections on Nov. 2.
STEP IN THE PROCESS
The EPA said it would make a final decision on the permit before Dec. 21. 'It is important to emphasize that this is only one step in the process,' the agency said in a statement.
Its next step will be to discuss with Arch, the Army Corps of Engineers and West Virginia State officials potential action to reduce harm to the environment and local waters.
Even before the release of the document, the EPA's website had said the agency was concerned the project could hurt the region's fish, wildlife and water quality.
Arch said it would defend its permit vigorously.
'If the EPA proceeds with its unlawful veto ... West Virginia's economy and future tax base will suffer a serious blow,' Arch said.
It said absent court action, the EPA veto would prohibit it from investing an additional $250 million in a mining operation that would create 250 jobs and generate tens of millions of dollars in tax revenues.
Environmentalists praised Garvin, the EPA's regional head, and pushed the agency to revoke the permit.
'This mother of all mountaintop removal coalmines would destroy thousands of acres of land, bury seven miles of streams and end a way of life for too many Appalachian families,' said Michael Brune, the Sierra Club's executive director.
Earlier this year, a group of scientists called on the U.S. government to stop issuing new permits for mountaintop coalmining. They cited research that the practice can hurt local residents who have contact with local streams or breathe airborne toxins and dust near such mines.
(Editing by Dale Hudson) Keywords: COAL EPA/MOUNTAINTOP (timothy.gardner@thomsonreuters.com; +1 202-898-8360; timothy.gardner.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.