“Even after a site has been reclaimed and attempts have
been made to re-vegetate it,’ a biologist with the study says, ‘the streams
that remain below that, that weren't filled, have high levels of all sorts of
nasty things’ Things, she says, like selenium, which in high amounts can harm
fish and other aquatic life; and sulfates, which alter the water chemistry…
Many animals in these valley streams — from algae to fish and birds — could be
seriously harmed.”
The study was released in the same week that the
Environmental Protection Agency supported a new mine permit for a site in West
Virginia. From the L.A. Times:
“The permit that the EPA just released
this week is not consistent with what the scientists are saying,’ said Joan
Mulhern, counsel to Earthjustice, which has taken legal action to halt the
practice. The Obama administration has pledged in general to…do what the
science dictates. This unequivocal new study has got to drive them to phase out
the practice,’ Mulhern said.
It is high time the EPA steps in does something about it. The environment is being polluted for our greediness. this not acceptable. Invest in solar and go green.
Posted by: Adrian | January 08, 2010 at 11:57 PM