coal mining

Inaction, Delay in Changing Bush-era Rule to Protect Streams Put Appalachian Communities at Risk and Put Focus on Environmental Protection Agency

November 2, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of the Interior intends to delay issuing a rule that would protect Appalachian streams and communities from mountaintop removal coal mining, giving even more urgency to the need for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take action to address this destructive practice.    » read more »

Expedite Mine Permits Issuance

November 03, 2009 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear today announced that he has approved an increase in the number of mine inspectors and the number of mining permit reviewers in the Energy and Environment Cabinet. Speaking with miners and local officials at three stops in eastern Kentucky today, the Governor said making sure Kentucky coal miners are safe must be a priority.

“The addition of 15 mine inspectors in the Office of Mine Safety and Licensing will not only help with our efforts to complete the number of required inspections, but will also enhance our nationally recognized mine rescue team capabilities and response,” said Gov. Beshear.    » read more »

October 15, 2009 -- Washington -- Congressman Artur Davis began circulating a letter today in the House of Representatives addressed to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. The letter calls for the EPA to evaluate claims that coal ash poses health and environmental risks. The letter also seeks clarification from the EPA that would provide predictability and consistency for coal-reliant industries and state and local officials. The content of the letter is below.

October 14, 2009

The Honorable Lisa Jackson, Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Ariel Rios Building, Mail Code: 1101A
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20460

Dear Administrator Jackson:    » read more »

Statement from Sierra Club Director of Environmental Quality Ed Hopkins

Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today moved to veto a Clean Water Act permit for the nation’s largest proposed mountaintop removal coal mining site, the Spruce No. 1 Mine in Logan County, West Virginia.

In response the Sierra Club's Director of Environmental Quality, Ed Hopkins, issued the following statement:    » read more »

October 15, 2009 -- Washington, DC: Reports in the Associated Press and Politico this morning revealed more findings related to Chairman Ed Markey’s investigation into those at the center of widening scandal involving forged letters sent to Congress.

The letters sent by Bonner and Associates, on behalf of a group contracted by American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, purported to come from veterans, senior, minority and women’s groups urging members of Congress to vote against clean energy legislation in the House earlier this year. A hearing on the issue, scheduled for this morning, has been postponed.

Statement of Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director:    » read more »

10/15/09 -- During a hearing of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, on which he serves as the Vice Chairman, Rep. Rahall asked, “Administrator Jackson, I would ask you, for the record, whether you believe that clarity and certainty is the goal in EPA’s reviews of coal mining permits? There are concerns that EPA is not providing clear cut direction – that coal operators are not being told what requirements they need to comply with and there is fear there are no clear rules of the game by which to seek mining permits.”    » read more »

Transition to Clean Energy Would Bring More Jobs, Economic Sustainability

October 13, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- The Sierra Club today released a groundbreaking new report that reaffirms the economic benefits of ending mountaintop removal coal mining and transitioning to clean energy sources in Appalachia. Conducted by Synapse Energy Economics, Inc., the report comes on the heels of the Obama administration's praiseworthy decision to review 79 permits for new mountaintop removal coal mining permits citing water quality concerns.    » read more »

10/13/09 -- Furthering his commitment to ensuring the future of coal mining jobs and the vitality of West Virginia’s mining communities, U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (WV-3) on Tuesday – in advance of a planned public forum hosted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) in Charleston – called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Corps to provide surety and fairness in the review of surface coal mining permits.    » read more »

October 2, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, successfully fought and succeeded in having his Excise Tax Amendment (F1 modified) included in the Finance Committee health care reform bill.

The amendment is designed to protect coal miners, first responders and other high-risk workers from an excise tax being proposed on high-cost health insurance plans. His amendment will now be part of the final Finance Committee bill, which will merge with the Senate HELP Committee bill to produce a final product for full Senate review.

Statement from Senator Rockefeller:    » read more »

Peabody Energy and Shanxi Lu'an Mining Group Co., Ltd. agree to pursue joint development of open-cut mine in Xinjiang

ST. LOUIS, June 23 -- Peabody Energy and Shanxi Lu'an Mining Group Company Ltd. (Lu'an) have announced that their subsidiaries have entered into an agreement to explore joint development and operation of Lu'an's Shaxi Mine in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in Northwestern China.

The Shaxi Mine, which is under construction, has access to a large dedicated thermal resource. The mine has the potential to expand to 15 million tonnes or more per year in line with the development of a new rail project that would serve electricity customers and other industrial users in Central and Eastern China.    » read more »

June 8, 2009 -- The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled that a $3 million contribution from Massy Coal to Justice Brent Benjamin’s 2004 campaign created “a serious, objective risk of actual bias that required Justice Benjamin’s recusal.”

Justice Benjamin cast the deciding vote in the reversal of a West Virginia court decision ordering Massey to pay $50 million in damages in a dispute with a local coal company.

Another West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals judge involved in the Massey case, Justice Spike Maynard recused himself last year after photos surfaced showing the judge and Massey CEO Don Blankenship vacationing together in Monaco. Justice Maynard voted with Justice Benjamin to reverse the decision against Massey.    » read more »

Restores Protections Against Dumping in Streams

April 27, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced his determination that the mountaintop coal mining “stream buffer zone rule” issued by the Bush Administration is legally defective. Salazar directed the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) to file a pleading with the U.S. District Court in Washington D.C. requesting that the rule be vacated due to this deficiency and remanded to the Department of the Interior for further action.    » read more »

April 20, 2009 -- Washington, D.C.-The Richard and Rhoda Goldman Environmental Foundation named Maria Gunnoe, a tireless voice in the movement against mountaintop-removal coal mining, as a recipient of the prestigious 2009 Goldman Environmental Prize. The Worldwatch Institute was one of several organizations to nominate Gunnoe for the award, which recognizes individuals for their sustained and significant efforts to protect and enhance the natural environment, often at great personal risk.    » read more »

Community members applaud decision to protect streams, residents

April 8, 2009 -- Appalachia, Virginia -- In a victory for community members and for clean water, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week requested that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to revoke the "nationwide 21" mining permit for A&G Coal’s massive Ison Rock Ridge mountaintop removal coal mine in Southwest Virginia.    » read more »

Decision to Review Certain Permits Will Save or Create Jobs, Protect Communities

March 25, 2009 -- Washington, DC: Tuesday’s announcement by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that it will review certain permits for mountaintop removal coal mines something the Bush EPA never did is a strong first step in the complex effort to end this most destructive form of coal mining and to support Appalachia’s long-term economic vitality.

Conflicting media reports and multiple press releases Tuesday led some to question the impact of the EPA announcement.    » read more »