Public Policy & Legislation
Under the Carter administration, the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) created many of the loopholes that have made mountaintop removal coal mining legally possible.
Under the Bush administration, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency repealed a long-standing Clean Water Act regulation, thus allowing for waste from mountaintop removal coal mining to be dumped into nearby streams and other waters. In 2007, U.S. District Judge Chuck Chambers ordered the Army Corps of Engineers to rescind several permits, slowing the process of environmental devastation. In February a panel of federal judges overturned the previous ruling, making it possible for up to 100 new mountaintop removal mining permits to be issued. On March 24th, the EPA put a temporary block on those new permits announcing that it needed to study the environmental impact of the practice. We need to convince the EPA to make the freeze permanent.
Ask your representative to co-sponsor The Clean Water Protection Act (H.R.1310), which would define "fill material" and once again prohibit the dumping of mountaintop removal waste into the water systems.
The Appalachian Restoration Act (S 696) is a Senate bill that would outlaw the dumping of mining waste into streams and undo the Bush administration's 2002 gutting of the Clean Water Act. Last week, the Senate held its first hearing on mountaintop removal coal mining and S 696. It is imperative that they hear from you so that they know they must put an end to the devastating practice of mountaintop removal coal mining. Use the online call-in tool at iLoveMountains.org to urge your Senators to support the Appalachian Restoration Act.
For more information contact environment @ uua.org.
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Last updated on Friday, August 19, 2011.
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