Epa Wins 'enhancements' But Fails To Sway Critics On Mining Waste Rule

摘要

EPA is touting water quality "enhancements" it secured prior to approving a contentious Interior Department (DOI) rule that allows mining companies to dump thousands of tons of mine waste in streams, but activists and other critics are blasting the agency's concurrence with DOI's rule and say the concessions fail to improve the rule. "EPA worked closely with [DOI's Office of Surface Mining] to enhance environmental provisions in the final rule, including requirements that no mining activities may occur in or near streams that would violate Federal or State water quality standards," an agency spokeswoman said in a Dec. 2 statement after EPA gave its concurrence to the rule - the last, hotly-contested step before the rule's 1 lth-hour finalization in the Bush administration. The enhancements are detailed in a letter EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson sent DOI Secretary Dirk Kempthorne. The letter is available on InsideEPA.com. Seepage 2 for details.