E.P.A. Halts Disposal of Mining Waste to Appalachian Waters at Suggested Spruce Mine / Agency cites irreversible damage to clean water, environment in the region

WASHINGTON - After extensive scientific study, a major public hearing in West Virginia and review of in excess of 50,000 public comments, the E.P.A. (EPA) today announced that it will use its authority under the Clean Water Act to halt the suggested disposal of mining waste in streams at the Mingo-Logan Coal Company's Spruce No. one coal mine. E.P.A. is acting under the law and using the best science to protect water quality, wildlife and Appalachian communities, who rely on clean waters for drinking, fishing and swimming. E.P.A. has used this Clean Water Act authority in just twelve circumstances since 1972 and reserves this authority for only unacceptable cases. This permit was 1st suggested in the 1990s and has been held up in the courts ever since.

"The suggested Spruce No. one Mine would use destructive and unsustainable mining practices that jeopardize the health of Appalachian communities and clean water on which they depend," said E.P.A. Assistant Administrator for Water Peter S. Silva. "Coal and coal mining are part of our nation's energy future and E.P.A. has worked with companies to design mining operations that adequately protect our nation's waters. We have a responsibility under the law to protect water quality and safeguard the people who rely on clean water."

EPA's final determination on the Spruce Mine comes after discussions with the company spanning in excess of a year failed to produce an arrangement that would lead to a significant decrease in impacts to the environment and Appalachian communities. The action prevents the mine from disposing of the waste into streams unless the company identifies an alternative mining design that would avoid irreversible damage to water quality and meets the requirements of the law. Despite EPA's willingness to consider alternatives, Mingo Logan did not offer any new suggested mining configurations in response to EPA's Recommended Determination.

E.P.A. believes that companies can design their operations to make them more sustainable and compliant with the law. Last year, E.P.A. worked closely with a mining company in West Virginia to eliminate nearly 50 percent of their water impacts and reduce contamination while at the same time increasing their coal production. These are the kinds of success stories that can be achieved through collaboration and willingness to reduce the impact on mining pollution on our waters. Those changes helped permanently protect local waters, maximize coal recovery and reduce costs for the operators.

EPA's decision to stop mining waste discharges to high quality streams at the Spruce No. one mine was based on several major environmental and water quality concerns. The suggested mine plan would have:

· Disposed of 110 million cubic yards of coal mine waste into streams.

· Buried in excess of 6 miles of high-quality streams in Logan County, West Virginia with millions of tons of mining waste from the dynamiting of in excess of 2,200 acres of mountains and forestlands.

· Buried in excess of 35,000 feet of high-quality streams under mining waste, which will eliminate all fish, small invertebrates, salamanders, and other wildlife that live in them.

· Polluted downstream waters as a result of burying these streams, which will lead to unhealthy levels of salinity and toxic levels of selenium that turn fresh water into salty water. The resulting waste that then fills valleys and streams can significantly compromise water quality, often causing permanent damage to ecosystems and streams.

· Caused downstream watershed degradation that will kill wildlife, impact birdlife, reduce habitat value, and increase susceptibility to toxic algal blooms.

· Inadequately mitigated for the mine's environmental impacts by not replacing streams being buried, and attempting to use stormwater ditches as compensation for natural stream losses.

Additionally, during the permitting process there was a failure to consider cumulative watershed degradation resulting from past, present, and future mining in the area.

Finally, EPA's decision prohibits 5 suggested valley fills in 2 streams, Pigeonroost Branch, and Oldhouse Branch, and their tributaries. Mining activities at the Spruce location are underway in Seng Camp Creek as a result of a prior arrangement reached in the active litigation with the Mingo Logan Coal Company. EPA's Final Determination does not affect current mining in Seng Camp Creek.

Background on Clean Water Act Section 404(c)

Clean Water Act Section 404(c) authorizes E.P.A. to restrict or prohibit placing dredged or fill material in streams, lakes, rivers, wetlands and other waters if the agency determines that the activities would result in "unacceptable adverse effects" to the environment, water quality, or water supplies. This authority applies to suggested plans as well as plans previously permitted under the Clean Water Act although E.P.A. is not considering such action for other previously permitted projects.

With today's action, E.P.A. has exercised its Section 404(c) authority only 13 times in its history of the CWA. E.P.A. acknowledges the importance of ensuring that its Section 404(c) actions are taken only where environmental impacts are truly unacceptable and will use this authority only where warranted by science and the law.

For a copy of the Final Determination:
http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/guidance/cwa/dredgdis/404c_index.cfm

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