U.S. judge curtails valley fills [mountaintop removal coal mining]

[prankster]

Coal companies must undergo a more rigorous government review of the effects of mountaintop removal mining on waterways before they receive permits, a federal judge in West Virginia ruled Thursday.

U.S. District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin barred the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from approving mining activities that affect waterways under a streamlined permit process.

***snip***

Environmental lawyers argued that mountaintop removal permits should have to go through a more extensive permit process, because mountaintop removal impacts the environment significantly.

On Thursday, Goodwin agreed. He said nationwide permits cannot be issued for future mountaintop removal permits, and the corps must revoke its permits for 11 mining sites affecting miles of Appalachian streams where construction has not started.

Link -- http://wvgazette.com/section/News/200407094

This is great news for the people of West Viriginia! It was a joke that the feds were allowing mountaintop removal mines to operate under a permit designed for activities with a minimal cumulative impact on the environment.

[glitch]

1. this guy is a hero - I bet he's already getting death threats nt