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February 16, 2009

Federal Court Rules in Favor of Mountaintop Coal Removal
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A federal appeals court in Richmond, Virginia has overturned a decision
that restricted the controversial coal mining practice known as
mountaintop removal. Friday’s decision reverses a 2007 ruling that the
US Army Corp of Engineers had violated the Clean Water Act in issuing
permits for four coal mines. Friday’s ruling is seen as a major victory
for the coal industry. Environmentalists say Appalachia could now face
up to ninety new mountaintop removal coal mining operations, which would
destroy huge swaths of the Appalachian Mountains. A coalition of
environmental groups including Earthjustice, Sierra Club and Coal River
Mountain Watch are now urging President Obama to ban mountaintop coal
removal.



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