Spruce No. 1 Permit Vetoed

EPA Takes Another Step Towards Enforcing Clean Water Standards

(re-posted from the Alliance for Appalachia)

Charleston, WV – Members of The Alliance for Appalachia praise the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s decision today to protect mountain communities and the health of Appalachian citizens with the EPA’s veto of the largest single mountaintop removal coal mining permit in West Virginia history, Spruce No. 1 Mine.

Citizen groups say that this decision by the EPA is another important step by the Agency in its commitment to follow the guidelines of sound science, as well as their legal responsibilities under the Clean Water Act.

If permitted, the Spruce No.1 Mine would have buried more than six miles of high quality streams under 110 million cubic yards of toxic coal mining waste. In addition to permanent water quality impacts, the mine would have destroyed more than 2,200 acres of mountains and forestlands in Logan Co, WV.

The Alliance for Appalachia is hopeful that the EPA will continue to remain strong in its responsibility to protect the communities of Appalachia from the destructive surface mining practices of the coal industry.

Ann League of The Statewide Organization for Community Empowerment, one of The Alliance’s partner organizations, praises the EPA and says we need more: "The EPA’s action is the kind of bold step we need to ensure the health of our communities and safety of our natural heritage. But, it is just one step toward justice for the Appalachian communities that have paid so dearly with the loss of clean water, clean air and sometimes the heartbreaking loss of loved ones. Spruce No. 1 is just one mine, in one community. We need the EPA to continue to do their job. More decisions like this one are needed throughout Appalachia to protect our home places.â€

Sam Broach, President of Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards agrees:
"We are all encouraged by this news from the EPA because it shows that the agency is accounting for Appalachian people’s health and well-being in their decision-making processes. We thank them for listening to the people and we hope that they will continue to enforce the laws that are in place. However, this is not enough; we need permanent, enforceable action to end mountaintop removal, end destruction of our mountains and waterways, and to protect the Appalachian people, once and for all.â€
To date, there have already been up to 2,000 miles of Appalachian streams buried and over a million acres of land blasted, displacing entire towns. Choking dust, toxic water, and polluted debris are permanent impairments to the health of local community members.

The Alliance for Appalachia is a regional coalition of 13 groups in five states working to end mountaintop removal coal mining and support the creation of a just, sustainable economy in Appalachia. Members include: Coal River Mountain Watch, SouthWings, Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, SOCM- Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment, Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards, West Virginia Highlands  Conservancy, The Appalachian Citizens Law Center, Appalshop, Heartwood, Mountain Association for Community Economic Development and Appalachian Voices.