surface mining

In Owensboro, Coal Vs. Girl Scouts?

Erica Peterson — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 12:39:45 +0000

The New York Times has a story up today about a contentious mine in Owensboro, Kentucky.

The Daviess County Fiscal Court voted earlier this month to allow a surface mine proposed by Western Kentucky Minerals. The mine would abut a Girl Scout camp: Camp Pennyroyal. Now, the decision is being appealed. But in the meantime, it's pitting residents against each other.

Federal Judge Overturns EPA Water Quality Regulations

The Associated Press — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 20:09:05 +0000

A federal judge says the Environmental Protection Agency overstepped its powers by setting up water-quality criteria for coal mining operations in Appalachia.

U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton in Washington ruled Tuesday in a lawsuit filed by a coal mining industry coalition against the EPA and Administrator Lisa Jackson. Walton said the EPA infringed on the authority given to state regulators by federal clean water and surface mining acts.

Report Finds Surface Coal Exports Rising, Argues Destruction is Harder to Justify

Erica Peterson — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 21:08:30 +0000

According to a new analysis by U.S. House Democrats, an increasing percentage of coal from mountaintop removal mines is being exported overseas. The report was released this morning, as the House Natural Resources committee held a hearing on a proposed stream buffer rule to protect Appalachian streams from coal mine pollution.

EPA Objections to 36 Kentucky Surface Mining Permits Being Reviewed and Reconsidered

Brad Yost — Sat, 09 Jun 2012 14:27:20 +0000

Over the past two years, the EPA has filed specific objections to 36 surface mining permits previously approved by the state of Kentucky to mining companies that wanted to dump waste into streams in Eastern Kentucky. This week, there were public hearings on the EPA's objection to the permits in both Frankfort and Pikeville, and the EPA is accepting written comments until June 21.