Urban Ecoist

Normally, I do try to focus on things that have to do with urban ecology and things we can do to preserve a healthy environment within cities, but every now and then, I feel compelled to bring outside interests to your attention. No, I am not trying to sell you a timeshare, but rather bring your attention to the latest Lame Duck Bush attempt to undermine environmental regulations so his friends can make more money and destroy the planet that much faster.

Something is rotten in the state of …the EPA.

A rule is currently in place that prohibits mining companies from operating within 100 feet of streams and rivers. Bush and his henchman, Stephen Johnson, the EPA’s protective-of-profit-only administrator, are trying once again to revise the Stream Buffer Zone. They tried last year, but a huge public outcry and tens of thousands of letters to the EPA shut the revision down. And now, with less than three months to go for our Lil’ Bush to fulfill all of promises to his Big Coal buddies, he is again trying to slip this one past us.

I found a very oddly written FAQ sheet from the Office of Surface Mining. It seems to be hiding something in its language. Seems that it is an awfully defensive response to the public outcry. But the real gist of it is that the current laws regarding the Stream Buffer Zone are confusing to some, so it needs to be rewritten and enforced, because it wasn’t really enforced either. Oh, and don’t worry, because the the new revision and enforcement will be more protective of streams, not less, more. The OSM doesn’t really specify how exactly, but the mining companies will have more of a burden to protect the environment somehow.

The Stream Buffer Zone rule has been around since Reagan days, so why revise it now? Is it because maybe coal companies are more eager than ever to continue to destroy mountains in order to get to that sweet, sweet coal? Huh, what market mechanisms would make it worth their while to mine coal from a site that the EPA claims will be more expensive to mine due to the OSM’s proposed new rules and enforcement? Maybe that coal’s price has gone up, and the coal companies will still make money on the site? Or is coal perhaps running out in other mines and new mines are needed? Oh, but wait, coal is, like, totally abundant according to the industry. No need to develop other energy sources, coal will last forever.

Wow, the power of advertising. I love this one.

If you want to give Bush and Johnson a great going away present, send them a letter about what you think about revising the Stream Buffer Zone. A great place to start is Ilovemountains.org. Also, the Center for Biological Diversity has a campaign going that you can access here.

This is a little excerpt from the CBD letter. You can send an email right from your urban desk.

The Office of Surface Mining’s recommendation would overturn an existing ban on mining within 100 feet of streams that has been in place since 1983. The Stream Buffer Zone rule is one of the only habitat protections for Appalachian ecosystems. Rather than enforcing the rule to protect water quality, the Bush administration and the OSM are giving coal companies permission to permanently destroy streams. Over 1,200 miles of streams in Appalachia have already been devastated by mountaintop-removal coal mining.

Makes you miss those Lame Duck Clinton moves to protect the environment before he left office.

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