CHARLESTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s veto of Arch Coal’s Spruce Mine permit in West Virginia demonstrates a total lack of respect for the legitimate permit review and issuance procedures that are implemented by the State and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and is an affront to the working men and women at the Spruce Mine and the people of West Virginia, WV Coal Association officials announced today.
Bill Raney, President of the WV Coal Association, said, “I am shocked, dismayed and disgusted at EPA’s actions. All of the other agencies involved in the Spruce Mine permit have disagreed and opposed EPA’s efforts to initiate this veto action. This is the most extreme example to date of EPA’s disregard and lack of respect for the will and intent of our Governor, the West Virginia Legislature and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection to interpret and implement West Virginia statutes and programs.”
“It is beyond understanding how EPA, especially in these tough economic times, can play regulatory games and revoke a permit that has been issued for three years and where men and women are working and coal production has already started. EPA’s actions today will cast a long shadow over the Appalachian coal industry and only increase the uncertainly already created by EPA’s year old interference in the permitting of coal mining operations in Appalachia and West Virginia.”
We urge our Congressional delegation to join with the Governor and members of the West Virginia Legislature and coal miners across the state to participate vigorously in the public hearing and input process that will follow this disappointing announcement from EPA.