Alabama Steps Up Mine Monitoring After EPA Threatens Permit Objections

Alabama environmental officials are stepping up monitoring of pollutant discharges from coal mines in response to negotiations between the state and federal officials, after EPA threatened to object to Clean Water Act permits for coal mines in the state that the agency said could have violated water quality standards. EPA has apparently backed off what state and industry sources say were earlier demands that Alabama fully apply the agency's landmark guidance on mining permits, which outlines strict requirements for approving...