Judge slams EPA for axing coal permit

[Jroc]

A federal judge slammed an Obama administration gambit to revoke mountaintop mining permits Friday, saying the EPA invented authority where there was none.
“EPA resorts to magical thinking” to justify nullifying permits issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Arch Coal Inc.’s Mingo Logan mine in West Virginia, wrote U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson in Washington, D.C.

Berman Jackson said the EPA’s effort to revoke permits already issued by the Army Corps lacked the backing of any statutory provision or regulation. “It posits a scenario involving the automatic self-destruction of a written permit issued by an entirely separate federal agency after years of study and consideration,” the opinion says.

“Poof! Not only is this nonrevocation revocation logistically complicated,” the ruling said, but it also robs industry of the only way they can possibly measure compliance with the Clean Water Act — a permit.

EPA ignored the effect that granting itself the right to revoke Army Corps permits could cause uncertainty and financial harm to industries dependent on capital credit for projects involving waterways.

“EPA brushed these objections away by characterizing them as hyperbole,” the judge wrote. “Even if the gloomy prophesies are somewhat overstated,” the concerns are real, she said.

Berman called the EPA’s interpretation of the Clean Water Act — which she separately lambasts for being poorly written — “illogical and impractical.”

Arch Coal spokeswoman Kim Link said the company is happy with the ruling. “We’re pleased the district court has ruled in our favor — confirming that our Spruce No. 1 permit remains valid,” Link said.

Environmental groups were dismayed with the ruling.

Read more: Judge slams EPA for axing coal permit - Erica Martinson - POLITICO.com

 

[Newby]

I wonder where all the pro union Obama supporters are when it comes to the issue of the coal unions being screwed over by Obama's EPA?

 

[Old Rocks]

Mountaintop Removal Mining | Beyond Coal

Mountaintop Removal Mining

In Appalachia, mining companies blow the tops off mountains to reach a thin seam of coal. They then dump millions of tons of rubble and toxic waste into the streams and valleys below the mining sites.

This destructive practice, known as mountaintop-removal mining, has damaged or destroyed nearly 2,000 miles of streams and threatens to destroy 1.4 million acres of mountaintops and forests by 2020. The mining poisons drinking water, destroys beautiful forests and wildlife habitat, increases the risk of flooding and wipes out entire communities.

Who Gets Hurt

Mountaintop removal pollutes waterways and allows toxic heavy metals such as cadmium, selenium, and arsenic to leach into local water supplies -- the same water that Appalachia's people rely on. But the danger isn't limited to drinking water; mountaintop removal also causes air pollution that affects communities for miles around. Many of the toxins that pollute mountaintop-removal sites are carcinogens, and cancer rates are twice as high for people who live near mountaintop-removal sites.

 

[Newby]

I was referring to this:

EPA Regulations | Coal Industry | Job Loss | The Daily Caller

New EPA rules to devastate coal industry
Published: 6:07 PM 07/07/2011
By Caroline May
Bio | Archive | Email Caroline May Follow Caroline May

The coal industry is crying foul over new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations which they say will be among the most be costly rules ever imposed by the agency on coal-fueled power plants.

The result, industry insiders say: substantially higher electricity rates and massive job loss.

“The EPA is ignoring the cumulative economic damage new regulations will cause,” said Steve Miller, president and CEO of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE). “America’s coal-fueled electric industry has been doing its part for the environment and the economy, but our industry needs adequate time to install clean coal technologies to comply with new regulations. Unfortunately, EPA doesn’t seem to care.”

Thursday the EPA announced that they have finalized additional Clean Air Act provisions, collectively known as “The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule” to ostensibly “reduce air pollution and attain clean air standards,” by requiring coal companies in 27 states to slash emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide by 73 percent and 54 percent, respectively, from 2005 levels by 2014.

 

[Newby]

New EPA rule threatens coal industry, electricity consumers | GoUpstate.com

New EPA rule threatens coal industry, electricity consumers
By TIMOTHY TERRELL
For the Herald-Journal

Published: Sunday, April 8, 2012 at 3:15 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, April 6, 2012 at 2:40 p.m.

On March 27, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a rule on new power plants in the U.S., limiting CO2 emissions per megawatt-hour of electricity produced to 1,000 pounds. This is about what a state-of-the-art, combined-cycle, gas-fired power plant emits, and far below what the best coal-fired plant can accomplish without extremely expensive (and currently commercially unavailable) carbon capture technology.

While the new rule has certain exceptions and allows for phasing in the new technology over many years, it adds to the woes of the largest single source of electric power generation in the country.[/URL]

 

[RetiredGySgt]

New EPA rule threatens coal industry, electricity consumers | GoUpstate.com

New EPA rule threatens coal industry, electricity consumers
By TIMOTHY TERRELL
For the Herald-Journal

Published: Sunday, April 8, 2012 at 3:15 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, April 6, 2012 at 2:40 p.m.

On March 27, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a rule on new power plants in the U.S., limiting CO2 emissions per megawatt-hour of electricity produced to 1,000 pounds. This is about what a state-of-the-art, combined-cycle, gas-fired power plant emits, and far below what the best coal-fired plant can accomplish without extremely expensive (and currently commercially unavailable) carbon capture technology.

While the new rule has certain exceptions and allows for phasing in the new technology over many years, it adds to the woes of the largest single source of electric power generation in the country.[/URL]

60 percent of our power comes from coal. And Obama stated in 2008 he would bankrupt the coal fired plant industry. All part of the master plan. We will be either paying thousands for electricity or be suffering blackouts and brownouts.

 

[mudwhistle]

Mountaintop Removal Mining | Beyond Coal

Mountaintop Removal Mining

In Appalachia, mining companies blow the tops off mountains to reach a thin seam of coal. They then dump millions of tons of rubble and toxic waste into the streams and valleys below the mining sites.

This destructive practice, known as mountaintop-removal mining, has damaged or destroyed nearly 2,000 miles of streams and threatens to destroy 1.4 million acres of mountaintops and forests by 2020. The mining poisons drinking water, destroys beautiful forests and wildlife habitat, increases the risk of flooding and wipes out entire communities.

Who Gets Hurt

Mountaintop removal pollutes waterways and allows toxic heavy metals such as cadmium, selenium, and arsenic to leach into local water supplies -- the same water that Appalachia's people rely on. But the danger isn't limited to drinking water; mountaintop removal also causes air pollution that affects communities for miles around. Many of the toxins that pollute mountaintop-removal sites are carcinogens, and cancer rates are twice as high for people who live near mountaintop-removal sites.

They won't let us Strip-Mine in Montana ether.

Miles and miles of grassland with coal beneath the surface and we can't touch it cuz it would ruin the natural ugliness of the Great Plains.

I suggest you turn off your fucken PC and turn off your TV and turn off your fridge and turn off your lights and AC.

Go back to living like they did during the Great Depression so slugs and bugs can live in their natural habitat.

 

[eflatminor]

Mountaintop Removal Mining | Beyond Coal

Mountaintop Removal Mining

In Appalachia, mining companies blow the tops off mountains to reach a thin seam of coal. They then dump millions of tons of rubble and toxic waste into the streams and valleys below the mining sites.

This destructive practice, known as mountaintop-removal mining, has damaged or destroyed nearly 2,000 miles of streams and threatens to destroy 1.4 million acres of mountaintops and forests by 2020. The mining poisons drinking water, destroys beautiful forests and wildlife habitat, increases the risk of flooding and wipes out entire communities.

Who Gets Hurt

Mountaintop removal pollutes waterways and allows toxic heavy metals such as cadmium, selenium, and arsenic to leach into local water supplies -- the same water that Appalachia's people rely on. But the danger isn't limited to drinking water; mountaintop removal also causes air pollution that affects communities for miles around. Many of the toxins that pollute mountaintop-removal sites are carcinogens, and cancer rates are twice as high for people who live near mountaintop-removal sites.

Just a personal observation: As a kid, I hunted extensively in a few Appalachian areas that were previously strip mines and mountain top removal sites. They were among the most beautiful, bountiful and fruitful hunting grounds I've ever experienced. Twenty years prior, not so pretty, but in relatively short time, paradise on earth. It would seem Mother Nature has no problem healing from our efforts to extract natural resources.

That said, if a mining operation of any kind actually harms nearby residences, they are entitled to seek compensation in a court of law...unless of course the government regulators have provided industry with litigious protection (anyone remember the $75M limit the government place on a gulf oil spill?). Point is, the EPA is unnecessary, unconstitutional and costly to taxpayers and job seekers.

 

[The Infidel]

Mountaintop Removal Mining | Beyond Coal

Mountaintop Removal Mining

In Appalachia, mining companies blow the tops off mountains to reach a thin seam of coal. They then dump millions of tons of rubble and toxic waste into the streams and valleys below the mining sites.

This destructive practice, known as mountaintop-removal mining, has damaged or destroyed nearly 2,000 miles of streams and threatens to destroy 1.4 million acres of mountaintops and forests by 2020. The mining poisons drinking water, destroys beautiful forests and wildlife habitat, increases the risk of flooding and wipes out entire communities.

Who Gets Hurt

Mountaintop removal pollutes waterways and allows toxic heavy metals such as cadmium, selenium, and arsenic to leach into local water supplies -- the same water that Appalachia's people rely on. But the danger isn't limited to drinking water; mountaintop removal also causes air pollution that affects communities for miles around. Many of the toxins that pollute mountaintop-removal sites are carcinogens, and cancer rates are twice as high for people who live near mountaintop-removal sites.

They won't let us Strip-Mine in Montana ether.

Miles and miles of grassland with coal beneath the surface and we can't touch it cuz it would ruin the natural ugliness of the Great Plains.

I suggest you turn off your fucken PC and turn off your TV and turn off your frig and turn of you lights an AC.

Go back to living like they did during the Great Depression so slugs and bugs can live in their natural habitat.

 

[Old Rocks]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFVdp1KJiqM]jean ritchie sings blackwaters - YouTube[/ame]

 

[starcraftzzz]

Lets look at the facts of mountaintop mining
Scientists say mountaintop mining should be stopped
^Scientists say that mountaintop mining is so destructible that the government should stop handing out new permits to do it.

Mountaintop Removal Mining — Kentuckians For The Commonwealth
^effects of mountaintop mining removal so far:
1) Over 2,000 miles of streams have been filled contaminated or destroyed.
2) Selenium (a toxic chemical) was found only in coalfield streams below valley fills
3) Mountain top mining produces 32% less jobs than other mining.

West Virginia Blue:: The economic case against Mountaintop Removal coal mining
^Locations of mountaintop mining are correlated with a much higher poverty rate.
^Poverty rates in these areas are 50% higher than other local places.

http://appalachiarising.org/press-and-bloggers/factsheet-on-mountaintop-removal-coal-mining/
Unemployment rates and Surface Mining in Appalachia | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
^1)A 2009 report estimates that mountaintop coal mining costs Appalachia five times more than the benefits it receives from mountaintop mining. 42 billion to 8 billion.
^2) residents in major mining locations had a 70% higher chance of having kidney disease a 64% increased chance for chronic pulmonary disease, and a 30% increase chance to have higher blood pressure.
^3) Local governments are propping up the coal industry, taking into account all revenue and expenditures the industry costs the local government of West Virginia 100 million a year and Kentucky 115 million a year.
^4) Local areas with mountaintop mining had an unemployment rate 44% higher than other local areas.

National Movement to End Mountaintop Removal Continues to Gain Momentum « Appalachian Voices
^ A Harvard study shows that Mountaintop coal mining increases health costs by 75 billion a year, or 9 times more than the benefits of the mining.

Ecological Impacts of Mountaintop Removal « Appalachian Voices
^Mountaintop removal mining has destroyed 1.2 million acres of forests.

SOURCE: M.A. Palmer et al. Mountaintop Mining Consequences, Science, 8 January 2010, Vol. 327, p. 148.
Mountaintop-removal mining: How it affects Appalachia - by Denise Calaman - Helium
^Mountaintop coal removal increases lung disease, cancer, and birth defects.
Also native fish and other animals are succumbing/dying due to groundwater pollution and a loss of habitat.

 

[eflatminor]

Lets look at the facts of mountaintop mining
Scientists say mountaintop mining should be stopped
^Scientists say that mountaintop mining is so destructible that the government should stop handing out new permits to do it.

Mountaintop Removal Mining — Kentuckians For The Commonwealth
^effects of mountaintop mining removal so far:
1) Over 2,000 miles of streams have been filled contaminated or destroyed.
2) Selenium (a toxic chemical) was found only in coalfield streams below valley fills
3) Mountain top mining produces 32% less jobs than other mining.

West Virginia Blue:: The economic case against Mountaintop Removal coal mining
^Locations of mountaintop mining are correlated with a much higher poverty rate.
^Poverty rates in these areas are 50% higher than other local places.

http://appalachiarising.org/press-and-bloggers/factsheet-on-mountaintop-removal-coal-mining/
Unemployment rates and Surface Mining in Appalachia | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
^1)A 2009 report estimates that mountaintop coal mining costs Appalachia five times more than the benefits it receives from mountaintop mining. 42 billion to 8 billion.
^2) residents in major mining locations had a 70% higher chance of having kidney disease a 64% increased chance for chronic pulmonary disease, and a 30% increase chance to have higher blood pressure.
^3) Local governments are propping up the coal industry, taking into account all revenue and expenditures the industry costs the local government of West Virginia 100 million a year and Kentucky 115 million a year.
^4) Local areas with mountaintop mining had an unemployment rate 44% higher than other local areas.

National Movement to End Mountaintop Removal Continues to Gain Momentum « Appalachian Voices
^ A Harvard study shows that Mountaintop coal mining increases health costs by 75 billion a year, or 9 times more than the benefits of the mining.

Ecological Impacts of Mountaintop Removal « Appalachian Voices
^Mountaintop removal mining has destroyed 1.2 million acres of forests.

SOURCE: M.A. Palmer et al. Mountaintop Mining Consequences, Science, 8 January 2010, Vol. 327, p. 148.
Mountaintop-removal mining: How it affects Appalachia - by Denise Calaman - Helium
^Mountaintop coal removal increases lung disease, cancer, and birth defects.
Also native fish and other animals are succumbing/dying due to groundwater pollution and a loss of habitat.

Anyone want to bet those scientists have their studies funded through taxpayer-funded grants or are otherwise in cahoots with the EPA? Anyway, again, if someone is harmed in the mining process, they can seek compensation through the courts. We need energy so unless you're advocating we go back to horse & buggy, we can't just stop mining, drilling, etc. Besides, Mother Nature has no problem healing. It's arrogant to think humans are anything more than a pimple on the butt of Mother Earth, if that! If earth can heal from periodic mass extinction events like massive meteors and super-volcanoes, she can heal from a little mining.

 

[starcraftzzz]

Lets look at the facts of mountaintop mining
Scientists say mountaintop mining should be stopped
^Scientists say that mountaintop mining is so destructible that the government should stop handing out new permits to do it.

Mountaintop Removal Mining — Kentuckians For The Commonwealth
^effects of mountaintop mining removal so far:
1) Over 2,000 miles of streams have been filled contaminated or destroyed.
2) Selenium (a toxic chemical) was found only in coalfield streams below valley fills
3) Mountain top mining produces 32% less jobs than other mining.

West Virginia Blue:: The economic case against Mountaintop Removal coal mining
^Locations of mountaintop mining are correlated with a much higher poverty rate.
^Poverty rates in these areas are 50% higher than other local places.

http://appalachiarising.org/press-and-bloggers/factsheet-on-mountaintop-removal-coal-mining/
Unemployment rates and Surface Mining in Appalachia | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
^1)A 2009 report estimates that mountaintop coal mining costs Appalachia five times more than the benefits it receives from mountaintop mining. 42 billion to 8 billion.
^2) residents in major mining locations had a 70% higher chance of having kidney disease a 64% increased chance for chronic pulmonary disease, and a 30% increase chance to have higher blood pressure.
^3) Local governments are propping up the coal industry, taking into account all revenue and expenditures the industry costs the local government of West Virginia 100 million a year and Kentucky 115 million a year.
^4) Local areas with mountaintop mining had an unemployment rate 44% higher than other local areas.

National Movement to End Mountaintop Removal Continues to Gain Momentum « Appalachian Voices
^ A Harvard study shows that Mountaintop coal mining increases health costs by 75 billion a year, or 9 times more than the benefits of the mining.

Ecological Impacts of Mountaintop Removal « Appalachian Voices
^Mountaintop removal mining has destroyed 1.2 million acres of forests.

SOURCE: M.A. Palmer et al. Mountaintop Mining Consequences, Science, 8 January 2010, Vol. 327, p. 148.
Mountaintop-removal mining: How it affects Appalachia - by Denise Calaman - Helium
^Mountaintop coal removal increases lung disease, cancer, and birth defects.
Also native fish and other animals are succumbing/dying due to groundwater pollution and a loss of habitat.

Anyone want to bet those scientists have their studies funded through taxpayer-funded grants or are otherwise in cahoots with the EPA? Anyway, again, if someone is harmed in the mining process, they can seek compensation through the courts. We need energy so unless you're advocating we go back to horse & buggy, we can't just stop mining, drilling, etc. Besides, Mother Nature has no problem healing. It's arrogant to think humans are anything more than a pimple on the butt of Mother Earth, if that! If earth can heal from periodic mass extinction events like massive meteors and super-volcanoes, she can heal from a little mining.

1) Those studies were done independently of government
2) The EPA doesn't give out grants for studies; so basically you just proved you have no clue about how the EPA works.
3) I see so according to you we should continue doing something that kills, hurts and destroys wealth and hurts the economy because people can just sue.
4) I see so according to you humans have less impact on the environmental then plants (who turned a oxygenless environmental into a oxygen environment).
5) This is part of the problem. Idiots like you think that the only way to get energy comes from fossil fuels. It is as if you've been stuck under a rock for the past 20 years
6) I see so according to you if human activities cause a mass human extinction it will be alright because the earth will be just fine.
Come back when you are not a 100% retard

 

[eflatminor]

Lets look at the facts of mountaintop mining
Scientists say mountaintop mining should be stopped
^Scientists say that mountaintop mining is so destructible that the government should stop handing out new permits to do it.

Mountaintop Removal Mining — Kentuckians For The Commonwealth
^effects of mountaintop mining removal so far:
1) Over 2,000 miles of streams have been filled contaminated or destroyed.
2) Selenium (a toxic chemical) was found only in coalfield streams below valley fills
3) Mountain top mining produces 32% less jobs than other mining.

West Virginia Blue:: The economic case against Mountaintop Removal coal mining
^Locations of mountaintop mining are correlated with a much higher poverty rate.
^Poverty rates in these areas are 50% higher than other local places.

http://appalachiarising.org/press-and-bloggers/factsheet-on-mountaintop-removal-coal-mining/
Unemployment rates and Surface Mining in Appalachia | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
^1)A 2009 report estimates that mountaintop coal mining costs Appalachia five times more than the benefits it receives from mountaintop mining. 42 billion to 8 billion.
^2) residents in major mining locations had a 70% higher chance of having kidney disease a 64% increased chance for chronic pulmonary disease, and a 30% increase chance to have higher blood pressure.
^3) Local governments are propping up the coal industry, taking into account all revenue and expenditures the industry costs the local government of West Virginia 100 million a year and Kentucky 115 million a year.
^4) Local areas with mountaintop mining had an unemployment rate 44% higher than other local areas.

National Movement to End Mountaintop Removal Continues to Gain Momentum « Appalachian Voices
^ A Harvard study shows that Mountaintop coal mining increases health costs by 75 billion a year, or 9 times more than the benefits of the mining.

Ecological Impacts of Mountaintop Removal « Appalachian Voices
^Mountaintop removal mining has destroyed 1.2 million acres of forests.

SOURCE: M.A. Palmer et al. Mountaintop Mining Consequences, Science, 8 January 2010, Vol. 327, p. 148.
Mountaintop-removal mining: How it affects Appalachia - by Denise Calaman - Helium
^Mountaintop coal removal increases lung disease, cancer, and birth defects.
Also native fish and other animals are succumbing/dying due to groundwater pollution and a loss of habitat.

Anyone want to bet those scientists have their studies funded through taxpayer-funded grants or are otherwise in cahoots with the EPA? Anyway, again, if someone is harmed in the mining process, they can seek compensation through the courts. We need energy so unless you're advocating we go back to horse & buggy, we can't just stop mining, drilling, etc. Besides, Mother Nature has no problem healing. It's arrogant to think humans are anything more than a pimple on the butt of Mother Earth, if that! If earth can heal from periodic mass extinction events like massive meteors and super-volcanoes, she can heal from a little mining.

1) Those studies were done independently of government
2) The EPA doesn't give out grants for studies; so basically you just proved you have no clue about how the EPA works.
3) I see so according to you we should continue doing something that kills, hurts and destroys wealth and hurts the economy because people can just sue.
4) I see so according to you humans have less impact on the environmental then plants (who turned a oxygenless environmental into a oxygen environment).
5) This is part of the problem. Idiots like you think that the only way to get energy comes from fossil fuels. It is as if you've been stuck under a rock for the past 20 years
6) I see so according to you if human activities cause a mass human extinction it will be alright because the earth will be just fine.
Come back when you are not a 100% retard

1) I don't believe you
2) Keep sucking up to your central planning dear leaders. You clearly cannot think for yourself. Guidance from others is the best shot you've got.
3) Wrapping it all up with an ad hominem...typical.

 

[RoadVirus]

We will be either paying thousands for electricity or be suffering blackouts and brownouts.

Or both. And will Obama care? Hell no!

 

[starcraftzzz]

Anyone want to bet those scientists have their studies funded through taxpayer-funded grants or are otherwise in cahoots with the EPA? Anyway, again, if someone is harmed in the mining process, they can seek compensation through the courts. We need energy so unless you're advocating we go back to horse & buggy, we can't just stop mining, drilling, etc. Besides, Mother Nature has no problem healing. It's arrogant to think humans are anything more than a pimple on the butt of Mother Earth, if that! If earth can heal from periodic mass extinction events like massive meteors and super-volcanoes, she can heal from a little mining.

1) Those studies were done independently of government
2) The EPA doesn't give out grants for studies; so basically you just proved you have no clue about how the EPA works.
3) I see so according to you we should continue doing something that kills, hurts and destroys wealth and hurts the economy because people can just sue.
4) I see so according to you humans have less impact on the environmental then plants (who turned a oxygenless environmental into a oxygen environment).
5) This is part of the problem. Idiots like you think that the only way to get energy comes from fossil fuels. It is as if you've been stuck under a rock for the past 20 years
6) I see so according to you if human activities cause a mass human extinction it will be alright because the earth will be just fine.
Come back when you are not a 100% retard

1) I don't believe you

Then go the sources and see reality for yourself. And also not that"I dont believe you and I refuse to look at your source to confirm" is really you just denying reality .

2) Keep sucking up to your central planning dear leaders. You clearly cannot think for yourself. Guidance from others is the best shot you've got.

I see so when I point out that you are ignorant of what the EPA does with its funds it means I am a suck up..

3) Wrapping it all up with an ad hominem...typical.

Yes but at least when I attack it is because you are being stupid and ignorant; you attack when its shown that you are stupid and ignorant

 

[eflatminor]

stupid and ignorant

Exactly what I was thinking...

 

[starcraftzzz]

stupid and ignorant

Exactly what I was thinking...

I feell horrible that "Exactly what I was thinking..." is the extent of your intellectual abilities