This statement was just released by U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, in response to WVDEP Secretary Randy Huffman’s new policy on surface mining permits with valley fills:
Today’s announcement from West Virginia’s State government is a critical acknowledgement of the substantial environmental, water and health impacts that result from mountaintop mining operations. EPA’s responsibility under the Clean Water Act is to ensure that mining activities do not degrade the quality of water used by communities, and we intend to ensure this requirement is met.
The most effective path forward now is to work together to develop mining policies that protect the environment, ensure public health, and are cost-effective. The approval earlier this week of the Hobet 45 permit in West Virginia is an example of what can be achieved when mining operators work with EPA to develop their plans. The Hobet 45 mine permanently protects streams, maximizes coal recovery and reduces costs.
Today’s announcement from West Virginia puts us on a path towards closer coordination and dialogue among key stakeholders, from federal and state authorities to industry to environmentalists. EPA is committed to working with all parties to ensure that our country’s energy, including coal based generation, is produced in a safe, healthier, and sustainable manner. That is the future of energy and the right future for coal. EPA will continue to rely on the best available science to evaluate mining projects and we strongly encourage West Virginia officials to work in conjunction, not apart, from EPA to develop future mining policy proposals that seek to protect water quality.
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[...] Blogs @ The Charleston Gazette – » EPA responds to WVDEP fill policy announcement blogs.wvgazette.com – view page – cached This statement was just released by U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, in response to WVDEP Secretary Randy Huffman’s new policy on surface mining permits with valley fills: [...]
When Secretary Jackson says that “the Hobet 45 mine permanently protects streams,” I assume she is referring to the three miles of stream that the compromise permit protects, and not the three miles that will be permanently buried and lost forever.
Since when was coal or it’s extraction “sustainable”?
“EPA is committed to working with all parties to ensure that our country’s energy, including coal based generation, is produced in a safe, healthier, and sustainable manner.”
A-mouse
Sustainable since this morning, when the phrasing appeared in the EPA’s press release.
This is all kind of amazing. EPA announces new, nation-wide air pollution standards that may cost $90 billion over 10 years (EPA’s numbers); but won’t stand up to terrible mining practices with significant costs and obvious injustices that actually employ very, very, very few Americans. It’s not science, it’s not good politics, it’s just bizarre. You wonder who is running the store.
Obama’s detractors still hate him, supporters are disillusioned and disappointed
My $90 billion number came from a radio interview with Juliet Eilpern, the Wash Post environmental columnist (see today’s “To the Point on KCRW). The number was actually a estimated at between $19 billion to $90 billion. Benefits were estimated at between $13 billion and $100 billion. But the NY Times reports these as annual costs and benefits, not costs over a decade.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/08/science/earth/08smog.html?
Not sure I have much confidence in any of these numbers.