Mining companies face lawsuits as US government rallies to their defence
Source: Associated Press
Mining companies face lawsuits as US government rallies to their defence
Environmental group alleges lax oversight means allows Colorado, New Mexico and Montana to produce massive pollution
Associated Press in Billings, Montana
theguardian.com, Sunday 6 July 2014 15.16 EDT
Coal industry representatives say lawsuits against mines in three western states could have consequences across the US as environmentalists seek changes in how mining is approved on federally owned reserves.
In civil cases unfolding in Colorado, New Mexico and Montana, the group WildEarth Guardians asserts coal companies benefited from lax oversight by federal regulators.
The group says the US Department of Interior approved mining plans without enough public involvement, and gave little heed to the pollution caused by digging, shipping and burning coal. The group asked the courts to stop mining until the plans are re-done.
The cases involve the San Juan coal mine in New Mexico, the Colowyo and Trapper mines in Colorado, and the Spring Creek mine in Montana. Combined, they employed about 1,200 workers and produced 27m tons of coal last year, according to federal records.
Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jul/06/mining-lawsuits-us-government-environment-montana-colorado
= new reply since forum marked as read
Every single fed agency is full of revolving door swingers in control of that agency.
It's the same with the so-called food and "health" agencies, too, which I've been researching lately. FDA, Dept. of Ag, HHS, NIH---they're all the same with the revolving door corporatists in charge.
We should just change the names of these agencies to Environmental Protection Annihilators, Department of Agribusiness, National Institute of Health Corporations, Food and Drug Associates for Profit, etc
