Comments on: EPA Clarifies: We Are Not Halting Mountaintop Mining

By: Tony Mantagna

Tony Mantagna — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:57:12 +0000

Maybe the current adminstration would like to preserve the independance of agencies in promulgating rules, unlike the previous adminstration. Maybe the current adminstration realizes it's important to ensure that when agencies carry out the intent of Congress in fullfilling the goals of their organic statutes, and that they do so without political interference from the White House, even if they don't like the decision. Or maybe the coal lobby is just very strong. Besides, if it's really that contrary to the CWA, there is always the courts.

By: workingman

workingman — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 07:08:46 +0000

That being said, their poor conceived press release and wording is to be blamed. While it is indeed very clear to me, the release deals with the communication between the EPA and (2) specific mining companies, this is not ambiguous. It would be a leap to assume otherwise but they did bury this little bit towards the bottom of the press release yesterday:

"EPA also requested the opportunity to meet with the Corps and the mining companies seeking the new permits to discuss alternatives that would better protect streams, wetlands and rivers."

"...mining companies seeking the new permits..."

Plus, this little GEM was nestled into the opening paragraph:

"EPA also intends to review other requests for mining permits."

So, that aside, let's say someone ran with the bait or at least, devolved into hyperbole?

The EPA really failed here as the 1st press release could have taken the shape of the "re-release" today and they would have saved themselves the perception that they're taking their marching orders for big business (coal mining).

By: Tony Mantagna

Tony Mantagna — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 06:57:12 +0000

By: workingman

workingman — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:08:46 +0000

By: Bob Cawley

Bob Cawley — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:43:51 +0000

Wow, I've been sooo disappointed on the Wall Street bail out, the undersized stimulus and the Bushian position on State Secrets. I was feeling so much better about Obama and then he pulls the rug right out from under me …

By: mikem42

mikem42 — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:10:47 +0000

what in the world is going on? are the Democrats standing up for our environment or not, or just going to go along with these immoral mining operations, allowing our lands and waters to be degraded, ruined for now and our future generations! clean up the coal industry, don't let them tramp all over the poor folks in rural, coal rich areas, just because they can. fight this.

By: Disappointing correction on EPA action « Later On

Disappointing correction on EPA action « Later On — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:39:00 +0000

[...] life, Democrats, Environment, Government, Obama administration, Science at 8:38 am by LeisureGuy Mike Lillis in the Washington Independent: The Environmental Protection Agency, which yesterday proclaimed the likelihood that several [...]