Earth Equity News

West Virginia Sues U.S. Over Mountaintop Removal Mining Restrictions. By Erik Eckholm, NYTimes, 10/7/10. “The state of West Virginia sued two federal agencies on Wednesday, seeking to reverse the stricter controls on mountaintop coal mining adopted in 2009 by the Obama administration. Governor Joe Manchin III said that the regulations were unlawful, usurped state rights, were based on inadequate science and harmed the state by preventing new mining projects. Announcing the suit against EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers, Mr. Manchin, a Democrat, condemned what he called the Obama administration’s ‘attempts to destroy our coal industry and way of life in West Virginia.’ Mr. Manchin is now in a close race for the Senate seat left open by the death of Robert Byrd. His Republican opponent, John Raese, has accused him of wavering in his dedication to the coal industry, a mainstay of the state’s economy; Mr. Manchin has fiercely denied the charge. Wednesday’s announcement, made with the head of the coal association at his side, was an opportunity for Mr. Manchin to highlight his support for coal and to distance himself from President Obama.”