EPA W.Va. mine action draws controversy

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. environmental regulators pulled a mining permit in West Virginia, sparking praise from environmentalists but scorn from politicians and industrial groups.

The U.S. Environmental Agency announced Thursday it was revoking a permit issued in 2007 for Arch Coal Inc.'s Spruce Mine No. 1 in West Virginia.

"The proposed Spruce No. 1 Mine would use destructive and unsustainable mining practices that jeopardize the health of Appalachian communities and clean water on which they depend," said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Peter Silva in a statement.

More than 20 industrial groups in a letter to the White House spoke in support of the West Virginia operation, saying it would generate billions of dollars of revenue each year.

U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., was quoted by The Wall Street Journal as saying the EPA's decision was "fundamentally wrong" and will cost his state key revenue during tough economic times.

The West Virginia mine was to use a procedure that involved blasting masses of land from mountain tops to expose seams of coal. About 11 percent of U.S. coal production from the region comes from surface mining.

Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club, was quoted by the Journal as saying the EPA deserved "enormous credit" for protecting the Appalachian Mountains.

The EPA decision was the first time it revoked a previously issued permit for a mining project.