After much discussion the Bush administration can claim yet another victory against the environment. Under newly proposed rules, it would now be just fine to rip the tops off of mountains and dump them in river streams, just like in the good old days. Well, you have to go back and repair the stream later (nudge-nudge-wink-wink).
As always seems to happen, this is being presented as a fine way to protect the environment -
Under proposed new regulations that it will put out Friday for
public comment, strip mine operators would have to show only that they
intend "to prevent, to the extent possible using the best technology
currently available," such damage."With this proposal, we can
establish a consistent, nationwide means to reduce the impacts of
surface coal mining and provide clear rules specifying what mining
activities can and cannot be conducted near bodies of water," said C.
Stephen Allred, Assistant Secretary of Interior for Land and Minerals
Management.
These proposed rules are available for public comment - Please visit the link below to read and comment on these rules