March 31, 2009 · On Tuesday, a federal judge issued a ruling that could curb the controversial mining practice known as mountaintop removal.
In mountaintop removal, coal companies blast away tons of rock and dirt, and dump the waste into valleys and streams.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers grants permits to allow these valley fills.
And in recent years, they’ve allowed companies to apply for so-called “nationwide” permits – which greatly streamline the process.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Joseph Goodwin blocks the Corps from issuing “nationwide” permits, and requires more detailed plans for each individual mine.
It’s another hit for the coal industry, which already is dealing with increased scrutiny of its permits from the Obama Administration.
Last week, the federal Environmental Protection Agency issued letters raising “serious concerns” about two proposed permits in Kentucky and West Virginia.
This sort of questioning was unheard of during the Bush Administration, according to both supporters and opponents of mountaintop removal mining.
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