Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a new set of guidelines meant to prevent significant and irreversible damage to Appalachian waterways because of mountaintop removal mining.

The following statement is from Earthjustice president Trip Van Noppen, commending EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and this latest action:

“We’re pleased with Administrator Jackson for persevering and using science to address the many environmental and human health impacts of mountaintop removal mining.

“This guidance follows the dictates of the Clean Water Act and lays the foundation for protecting Appalachia. It is a matter of basic fairness and common sense that coal companies which pollute our waters and violate the Clean Water Act should not get Clean Water Act permits.

“We commend Administrator Jackson and the EPA for recognizing that the people of coal communities deserve the full protection of our clean water laws, and we’re glad to see that EPA is back on the job.

“We will be working hard during the comment period to make sure that EPA follows through with implementation of this policy, as EPA’s immediate implementation of this is critical.”