A Washington environmental group has put the federal office of Surface Mining and Reclamation and Enforcement on notice of its intent to file a lawsuit over the filling of abandoned deep mines with coal ash.
The Citizens Coal Council believes the practice of disposing of millions of tons of the waste into mines violates federal law because the ash contains such hazards as arsenic in highly concentrated amounts, the council announced in a news release Saturday night.
"Despite long-standing citizens' complaints and voiced concerns, (the state Department of Environmental Protection) has failed and continues to fail to implement, administer, enforce and maintain its approved state regulatory mining program in accordance with federal regulations," stated council coordinator Aimee Erickson.
The organization also has criticized the DEP for allowing the practice and not setting high enough bonds for reclamation in the event such an operation is abandoned.
Here's another article to back up worried folks in Crossville and Cumberland County, Tennessee who don't want coal ash at Smith Mountain.
Several members of the Cumberland Stewards are also members of Save Our Cumberland Mountains (SOCM). Citizens Coal Council member groups include SOCM, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, Appalachian Voices (NC), Coal River Mountain Watch (WV), Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition (WV), West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, Black Warrior Riverkeeper (AL) and Friends of Hurricane Creek (AL), as well as groups in Colorado, Wyoming, North Dakota, Illinois and Pennsylvania.
