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FACES of Coal says EPA Intent on Destroying Appalachian Economy

CHARLESTON, W.Va., April 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Thursday mandated a totally new and virtually unattainable water quality standard for all coal mining permits across Appalachia in a move that threatens thousands of jobs and the economic future of mining communities. The announcement comes days after the EPA began the veto process for an already approved permit for the Spruce No.1 mine in Logan County, WV. The EPA has only used this veto authority 12 times since 1972, and has never used its authority to veto an existing permit.

"Thursday's EPA policy and guidelines announcement is as dangerous and threatening an action as this region has ever seen. Imposing sweeping restrictions on coal mining in only six states without any opportunity for comment or review prior to implementation is an alarming example of bureaucratic discrimination and abuse," said Bryan Brown, state coordinator for the FACES of Coal campaign. "This action by the EPA sets standards that most underground mines can't achieve and will have a devastating impact on the Appalachian regions of West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee."

Brown Continued, "A host of other job critical industries and activities also can't meet the new water standard - including highway construction, housing developments, industrial parks, sewage treatment facilities and electrical generating plants. At what point will the EPA take aim at those jobs? This is not the way to create jobs -- it's how you destroy them."

The FACES of Coal is an organization that will be imploring its 60,000 members to make sure their representatives and leaders throughout the country don't let this misguided and dangerous action stand.

The Federation for American Coal, Energy and Security (FACES of Coal) is an alliance of more than 60,000 people from all walks of life who are joining forces to educate lawmakers and the general public about the importance of coal and coal mining to our local and national economies and to our nation's energy security. In addition to keeping tens of thousands of people employed in good-paying jobs, coal is the lifeblood of our domestic energy supply, generating nearly half the electricity consumed in the United States today.

SOURCE The Federation for American Coal, Energy and Security (FACES of Coal)