coal

Report: Declines in Central Appalachian Coal Production, Demand Will Continue

Erica Peterson — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:41:52 +0000

A new report takes a comprehensive look at the numerous factors behind the decline in Central Appalachian coal production, and predicts that more production declines are in the future.

Group Says Rand Paul's Proposals Would Strip Environmental Protection

Erica Peterson — Thu, 09 May 2013 20:53:55 +0000

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul has introduced three amendments to a bill before the Senate that environmental groups say would gut protections for the environment.

Groups Petition EPA to Limit Water Pollution from Coal Mines

Erica Peterson — Tue, 07 May 2013 20:41:12 +0000

Environmental groups are petitioning the Environmental Protection Agency to change the way it measures water quality in six Appalachian states, including Kentucky.

McConnell to Introduce 'Coal Jobs Protection Act'

Erica Peterson — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:30:44 +0000

U.S. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell plans to announce a bill to put limits on the Environmental Protection Agency’s regulation of coal mining.

Scientists Call For Moratorium on Mountaintop Removal Mining

Erica Peterson — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 18:07:54 +0000

Call it a battle of the researchers. Scientists who have both affirmed and denied connections between mountaintop removal coal mining and serious health problems have intensified their efforts to bring public attention to their work recently. Today, a commission of scientists released an analysis of some of the recent research, and concluded that there should be a moratorium on mountaintop removal.

Over the past few years, researchers have found links between surface coal mining and maladies like asthma, COPD, birth defects and cancer. The coal industry has largely dismissed the results of those studies, arguing that the researchers are biased and the findings aren’t scientifically sound. Now, the Center for Health, Environment and Justice has formed an independent commission to review the current research and offer recommendations.

Appeals Court Upholds EPA's Veto of W. Va. Mine Permit

Erica Peterson — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:17:02 +0000

A federal appeals court says the Environmental Protection Agency didn’t overstep its authority when it vetoed a permit for a coal mine in West Virginia.

The Army Corps of Engineers issued a water pollution permit to Arch Coal in 2007 for the Spruce Number One Mine, a 2300-acre mine in Logan County, West Virginia. It would have been the largest mountaintop removal mine in Appalachia. But four years later, the EPA vetoed the permit—only the 13^th time its exercised its veto power since 1972.

Court Rules Army Corps' Streamlined Coal Mining Permit Doesn't Protect Environment

Erica Peterson — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:29:50 +0000

An appeals court has ruled in favor of environmental groups that argued the streamlined permit the government used to permit mountaintop removal mines wasn’t protective of the environment.

The decision was issued today by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. It finds that the U.S. Army Corps’ issuance of the streamlined “Nationwide 21” permit is in violation of the Clean Water Act and the National Environmental Policy Act.

LG&E to Announce Plans to Reuse Coal Byproducts at Mill Creek

Erica Peterson — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 18:34:26 +0000

Louisville Gas and Electric will hold a press conference Monday morning to announce “a new beneficial reuse manufacturing facility.” The star-studded event will feature Senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul, Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer and state house majority leader Rocky Adkins.

So, why the fuss? It seems that Louisville company Charah plans to use the byproducts scrubbed from the emissions at the Mill Creek Power Station in a sulfate-based fertilizer the company manufactures.

Study: Most Coal-Fired Power Plants Can't Compete Against Natural Gas

Erica Peterson — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:52:05 +0000

A new study estimates that 65 percent of current coal-fired power plants won’t be economical to run in the near future.

Legislative Committee Advances New Selenium Regulations Despite Confusion, Concerns

Erica Peterson — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:37:17 +0000

The Kentucky Administrative Regulation Review Committee has advanced new rules proposed by the state Energy and Environment Cabinet to regulate the levels of selenium in Kentucky waterways. The state says the new regulations are a necessary update, and will adequately protect the environment and aquatic species; but environmental groups have raised serious concerns and say the proposal doesn't comply with the federal Clean Water Act and is unenforceable.

The measure passed 5-3. Committee co-chairman Rep. Johnny Bell says he's not confident the members of the committee comprehended the full effects of the regulation change.