EPA Strengthens Protection on Waterways Affected by Mountaintop Mining

This Thursday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released

its final guidance on protecting the quality of water sources in Appalachian communities where there are currently mountaintop coal mining operations.

The purpose of the guidance is to further protect public and environmental health by incorporating the best-available science and technology. Before releasing the guidance, the EPA took into account over 60,000 comments from residents in the areas affected by the mining operations, as well as other members of the public and key stakeholders in the operations. In the announcement today, the EPA noted that the agency is also being given the basis to work and collaborate with local and state governments, individual private mining companies, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the public on protecting water quality and improving overall public and environmental health.

Acting assistant administrator for the EPA's Office of Water Nancy Stoner commented on the importance of the final guidance released today by the EPA. Stoner said, "Under this guidance, EPA will continue to work with other federal agencies, states, local communities, and companies to design mining operations that adequately protect our nation's waters and people's health. We have a responsibility under the law to protect water quality and this guidance allows EPA to work with companies to meet that goal, based on the best science."

Over the past two and a half years the EPA has worked with other federal and state agencies, as well as mining companies, to significantly reduce the impact of mountaintop mining on the environmental and the health of nearby residents. The EPA has worked to limit mine runoff and ionic pollution into surface waters, including streams and rivers. These types of pollution can greatly impact the quality of water.

The Hill reported that the guidance will strengthen and clarify the permitting requirements for mountaintop mining projects and will ultimately give the EPA more authority to limit pollution for waterways affected by mining under the Clean Water Act.

Mountaintop mining has long been criticized by environmental organizations for the major impact it has on local ecosystems. But today's commitment was praised, especially by environmental organization Earthjustice. The organization's Senior Legislative Counsel Joan Mulhern said of today's announcement, "We're glad to see Administrator Lisa Jackson follow through on her commitment to finalize this important staff guidance, which is a considerable step toward giving Appalachian communities their rightful protections under existing law and following sound science."

However, the guidance still came under fire from pro-mining groups. National Mining Association President Hal Quinn said, "Despite the administration's pledges to focus on jobs creation, today's final guidance is a jobs destroyer and does nothing to cure EPA's unlawful permit moratorium on coal mining in Appalachia."

Rachel Bogart provides an in-depth look at current environmental issues and local Chicago news stories. As a college student from the Chicago suburbs pursuing two science degrees, she applies her knowledge and passion to both topics to garner further public awareness.

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