Bush, industry seek reversal of mine ruling

[Rose Siding]

A federal judge overstepped his authority when he blocked the streamlined permitting of new mountaintop removal coal mines, the Bush administration says in a new legal brief.

Lawyers for the Army Corps of Engineers asked a federal appeals court to overturn the July 2004 ruling by U.S. District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin.

Corps lawyers said that Goodwin’s ruling came in the third legal effort to “halt the practice of valley fill mining.”
In a separate brief, coal industry lawyers also asked the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to throw out Goodwin’s ruling.

Industry lawyers criticized Goodwin’s decision as the “latest unwarranted and impermissible dismantling” of mountaintop removal regulations by federal judges in Southern West Virginia.
...
In mountaintop removal, coal operators blast off hilltops to uncover valuable, low-sulfur coal seams. Leftover rock and dirt is shoved into nearby valleys, burying streams.

http://wvgazette.com/section/Special%20Report/200503222?pt=10

[roguevalley]

1. this is so distructive. it is so damned ugly. i hope he loses.

[MountainLaurel]

2. And don't forget deadly

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=185&topic_id=865

People in mining areas have been predicting a tragedy such as that mentioned here for decades: too many people have had boulders rolling down the hill into their gardens, seen the foundations of their homes cracked. And I consider Bush directly responsible for his support of these corporate criminals who have been allowed to flout the law for years now.

[radfringe]

3. good fer biddness

all they are after is the dollar...

[mitchtv]

4. Not to worry

Gays won't be able to get married.