EPA CONCERNS MAY BOOST BID TO WEIGH STREAM'S 'FUNCTION' IN PERMITS

The Obama EPA is raising concerns over a key mountaintop mining permit for failing to consider the impact that the mining project would have on a stream's "function" in its review of the permit, which could boost environmentalists' calls to mandate that the Corps consider the issue in mining permit reviews. Mining industry officials are already describing as "very troubling" EPA's request for the Corps to suspend, revoke or modify a permit issued for a mining project in Logan County,...