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 »

Calls on DOL to Improve the Claims Process for Coal Miners

October 30, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- Senator Jay Rockefeller today released a report he requested from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) regarding the persistent barriers that miners and their families face when trying to secure benefits through the federal Black Lung Benefits Program. Senator Rockefeller called on the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to quickly consider and act on the report and he plans to introduce related legislation.    » 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 »

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 »

New Bill Would Establish Permit Program to Help ‘Good Samaritans’ Effectively Clean up Mines in Colorado

October 14, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Mark Udall announced the introduction of a bill to help "Good Samaritans" who want to clean up abandoned mines but can't without taking on liability under the Clean Water Act. Abandoned mines are a serious environmental and safety hazard throughout Colorado and the West.

Senator Udall's bill would open up a path for community groups and others to get these mines cleaned up by establishing a permit program that would enable volunteers to reduce the pollution flowing from an abandoned mine without being exposed to full liability under the Clean Water Act.    » read more »

Proposed Mine Could Destroy World's Largest Salmon Run and Local Fishing Industry

LOS ANGELES (October 13, 2009) –The Natural Resources Defense Council announced today a new BioGem campaign to save Alaska’s Bristol Bay, the world’s most productive salmon fishery, from the development of Pebble Mine, one of the largest gold and copper mines ever proposed.

“There are few human activities as toxic as large-scale mining,” said Joel Reynolds, senior attorney and director of NRDC’s marine mammal protection project. “The Pebble Mine project could lead to widespread water contamination, which would destroy the salmon runs of the Bristol Bay watershed and thereby devastate the native communities and abundant wildlife the salmon have supported for thousands of years.”    » 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 »

Questions on Pizarchik related to coal ash disposal, mountain-top mining

October 8, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Today in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) went on the record in opposition to the nomination of Jospeh Pizarchik to be the US Department Interior’s Director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. Menendez released the following statement after the Committee’s business meeting, citing questions about Pizarchik’s views on coal ash disposal and mountain-top mining:    » read more »

Petition Seeks Greater Attention to Environmental Justice Considerations in Review of Mining Permits

October 5, 2009 -- Washington, D.C.: Today a coalition of Appalachian residents and community organizations submitted a petition to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) citing the need for the agency to address the environmental justice tragedy of mountaintop removal mining in Appalachia. The petition urges EPA to incorporate environmental justice considerations into its review of pending applications for mountaintop removal coal mining permits, among other actions.    » 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 »

October 2, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska – Alaska Governor Sean Parnell expressed concern with federal legislation that would consolidate parts of various energy minerals management and leasing programs into another entity.

In a letter to House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick J. Rahall II, Governor Parnell said the legislation goes too far and will result in less domestic oil and gas production and fewer energy-related jobs in the U.S.

“This bill would create unnecessary delays and impediments in federal leasing programs,” Governor Parnell said. “It is in the best interest of Alaska and the nation that oil and gas leasing not be adversely impacted by ill-conceived federal legislation.”    » read more »

September 30, 2009 -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today reasserted its concerns about the potential environmental harm that would be caused by the issuance of dozens of new mountaintop removal coal mining permits in Appalachia.

The EPA, which announced on September 11, 2009 that all 79 of the mountaintop removal coal mining permits currently under agency review would violate the Clean Water Act, today formally announced that it would conduct an enhanced review of all 79 permits.

In response Mary Anne Hitt, Deputy Director of the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign, issued the following statement:    » read more »

GE’s CHP Units Help Mine Reduce Environmental Impact by Saving 1.3 Million Tons of CO2 per Year

29 September 2009 -- NORTH QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA -- Queensland Minister for Mines and Energy Stephen Robertson today formally opened one of Australia‘s most powerful onsite power plants fueled by waste coal mine gas (WCMG). Today’s event highlights the mining industry’s efforts to reduce the environmental impact of its activities while ensuring that coal remains an important national export and global energy source.    » read more »