Obama EPA Revokes Largest Mountaintop Removal Permit in US History

[ProSense]

Obama EPA Revokes Largest Mountaintop Removal Permit in US History

by dotcommodity

In nearly four decades since the Clean Water Act was passed, the Environmental Protection Agency has never vetoed any mining permit retroactively. That changed this morning.

Word is just coming down via Coal Tattoo that the Obama administration EPA has just vetoed the largest single mountaintop removal permit in West Virginia history. The permit was initially awarded during the previous very fossil-friendly Bush administration, after a fractious decades-long court battle.

By retracting the Clean Water Air permit for Arch Coal’s 2,300-acre mine proposed for the Blair area of Logan County, West Virginia, the EPA is effectively suspending most major activity.

The decision comes after it reviewed more than 50,000 public comments and held a major public hearing in West Virginia, and is part of the Obama administration EPA crackdown on mountaintop removal.

more

NRDC: EPA vetoes mega mountaintop-to-moonscape project

[Kdillard]

1. Excellent news.

[gateley]

2. Thanks you! nt

[LisaM]

3. Good!!!

I hope that recent events have made him feel a bit more empowered.

[xxqqqzme]

4. This is very good news.

Finally, a small step forward.

[klook]

5. Fantastic

One of the worst aspects of Dirty Coal (as if there's any other kind) is the horrendous destruction of mountaintop removal. Very glad to see this decision, and I hope it sets the tone for more such actions.

This land is your land, this land is my land.

[mistertrickster]

6. Now this is a Big EFFING Deal! Hopefully, it means ALL mtn top removal will end. nt

[quaker bill]

7. This is the sort of change

I voted for

[JoePhilly]

8. That corporate, sell-out, BASTARD!!!!

Oh wait ... what??

Never mind ...

:hide:

[Radical Activist]

9. He acts just like Bush!

Especially when reversing bad decisions of the Bush administration like he is on mountaintop removal!

[impik]

10. That sell-out.

[kwolf68]

11. Great news

The EPA is under extreme attack...the Renuts are looking to gut it to make it impotent.

Now if Obama can get Salazar replaced as Interior Sec. then maybe we'd be onto something.

[cottonseed]

12. If a mountaintop removal permit is revoked at DU does anybody hear?